St. Patrick’s Day: How to Prepare Your Home for a PARTY!
Earth Day is not until next month, but we’ll forgive you if you’ve already got green on the mind. In just a few days we’ll be celebrating one of the most colorful holidays of the year: St. Patrick’s Day. It’s ripe with tradition and meaning, but it’s also the final festive occasion of winter, so it deserves to be done right. You won’t need the luck of the Irish to pull off an epic event, either. From shamrocks to shepherd’s pie, here are several tips to help transform your home into the Emerald Isle.
St. Patrick’s Day Party = Green Everything
Beverages, desserts, decorations, and even hair should be awash in gorgeous green. Invite guests to show up in their favorite green duds and sporting green wigs or green-dyed hair will further help to set the scene. If you’re partying into the evening hours, use a spotlight to bathe your home in a sea of green, or a laser light projector for animated leprechauns, shamrocks, and other seasonal symbols.
When it comes to going green, fountains and ponds are also in play. One of the holiday’s most recognizable celebrations is the dyeing green of the Chicago River, so consider doing the same to your backyard water feature.
A Taste of Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day
Everyone knows that good food is the key to a good party, but this is one celebration for which hamburgers, hot dogs, and wings won’t do. An event like a St. Patrick’s Day Party calls for an ethnic-inspired menu, and there’s lots to love about Irish cuisine.
Finger foods like celery, cucumber, broccoli, and peppers may not be unique to Ireland, but they’re healthy choices that work well with the green theme. Irish soda bread is perfect when partnered with dips, and desserts might include apple tart, shamrock-shaped cookies, green cupcakes, and gold foil-wrapped chocolates. Traditionally, meats are an important part of the celebration, too. Start with an Irish stew, but follow it with corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, lamb, or bacon, which can be wrapped around potatoes, sausages, and other fare.
Of course, drinking is synonymous with the holiday, and a little green food coloring will lively up the adult beverages. Non-drinkers and those under 21 can get in the spirit, too, with delicious drinks like shamrock milkshakes, mint chocolate chip smoothies, peppermint hot chocolate, and green punch or lemonade.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
In the age of Instagram, it’s more important than ever to have a decorative backdrop for photos. And don’t worry about overdoing it; the more festive the décor, the better the chance your party will live on in social media. A fence lined with multi-colored string lights and green balloons makes an attractive setting, while a giant inflatable leprechaun would make a fun spot for selfies.
For outdoor affairs, be sure to dress up your deck with rainbow streamers, green twinkle lights, and plenty of shamrocks. If your yard has a large stone present, cover it with clover or moss and christen it the Blarney Stone. Just give it a quick washing before the party in case any guests feel like kissing it.
Don’t test your luck! Before guests arrive to your St. Patrick’s Day Party, make sure your home is ready for the attention. Cleaning is certainly in order, and if you’ll be using your deck, confirm that it’s ready for use after the long winter. If your safety check turns up loose railings, sloped steps, or any other problems, you can always rely on Excel Fencing & Decking to fill all your deck repair needs. Feel free to contact us for more information.