8 Fabulously Free St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids

You might be scratching your head trying to come up with what to do for St. Patrick’s Day with kids, especially if you’re looking for ideas that will be memorable, educational, and affordable! The good news is, there are plenty of ways for your kids to have a great time celebrating St. Patrick’s Day without having to spend a pot of gold!

Free St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids

Wondering how to entertain your mischievous little leprechauns this St. Patrick’s Day? Luckily for you, there are ample kid- and budget-friendly activities to try — from planning a backyard scavenger hunt to getting creative in the kitchen and more.

1. Take a virtual tour of Ireland

Virtual field trips are an amazing way to explore different parts of the world, all from the comfort of your couch. But to make your virtual adventure St. Patrick’s Day-appropriate, why not set off on a tour of Ireland? There are several incredible places within this country your family can discover together, whether you want to journey to the Giant’s Causeway, marvel at the Cliffs of Moher, or visit one of their many stunning castles or lighthouses. A quick online search for ‘virtual tours of Ireland’ is sure to take you anywhere you want to go!

2. Paint the Irish countryside

Now that your kids have seen some of the wonders Ireland has to offer, how about they paint their favorite landscape or landmark from the field trip? Set up a painting station where they can recreate the rolling hills of the Irish countryside or a castle seated next to some coastal cliffs.

This is a great way for your kids to practice mixing or blending colors and even incorporating texture or pattern into their work. And if you don’t have paints on hand (or want to avoid any potential mess), crayons or colored pencils will do the trick!

3. Play a few rounds of themed bingo

Bingo is one of the easiest but most enjoyable family-friendly St. Patrick’s day activities. You can find tons of printable board games online, complete with festive themes like rainbows, harps, and shamrocks. Print a few different versions of boards, and give everyone some coins to mark their pages with. Amp things up by offering a small prize to the winner of each round, like chocolates or a low-dollar gift card. Awards aren’t necessary, but they could ignite some healthy competition among everyone playing.

4. Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt

Depending on where you live, March 17th might already feel like spring, or at least warm enough to spend some time outside. If you can, take your kids on an outdoor scavenger hunt for St. Patrick’s Day-related items. Think of things they can search for right in your backyard, like a patch of clover, a gold (or shiny) object, all the colors of the rainbow, and so on. Set a stopwatch for ten minutes, and see how much of the list they can track down before time is up. Bonus points if they’re able to find a four-leaf clover, too!

5. Try out a new potato recipe

Potatoes have been a staple of Irish cooking for centuries, so what better day to explore a new potato recipe than St. Patrick’s? If you have some picky eaters in your household, there’s plenty of recipes to choose from that are sure to satisfy everyone. Research things like Irish Shepherd’s Pie, potato soup, or potato pancakes, each containing many basic ingredients you might already have on hand.

Select one or two recipes you’d like to tackle, and have your kids assist in chopping vegetables or making a stock for the soup. Then, when your adventures in the kitchen are complete, the whole family can gather at the table to savor what you’ve cooked up.

6. Make rainbow-colored smoothies

Even though you have the meal covered, you’ll need something delicious to pair it with! Rainbow-colored smoothies are not only a fresh and healthy option for the whole family, but they’re on theme for the holiday, as well. Your kids can help out here, too, by carefully slicing or peeling the fruit, as needed. And while these smoothies may look professional-level, they’re actually super simple to make — which means you can go ahead and dive right into this refreshing (and nutritious) beverage!

7. Write an original limerick

An Irish limerick is a short, whimsical poem with a specific rhythm and rhyme scheme that typically consists of just five lines. The first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with one another and contain three phrases with three syllables each. The third and fourth lines also rhyme but are shorter, having only two phrases with three syllables. Composing an original limerick is a fun way for your kids to hone in on their writing skills and learn something new, while also an opportunity to explore their creative or silly side at the same time.

8. Create a leprechaun puppet

Leprechauns are famous characters in Irish folklore and are often associated with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. To create a leprechaun puppet, all your kids need is construction paper, glue, and a paper bag to get started. You can look up design ideas online or let your imaginations run wild on this one. Once the characters are finished, the kids can put on a puppet show or make up their own fairytale featuring their colorful leprechaun creation.

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