Even if you’ve traded in your pre-kid St. Patrick’s Day activities, with a little luck, there’s still plenty of fun to be had. Whether you’ve got preschoolers (hello, St. Patrick’s Day coloring pages) or older kids (Shamrock slime, anyone?), we’ve gathered up a bunch of festive St. Patrick’s Day crafts for kids that will get your crew excited about the holiday. Be sure to top off the holiday fun with a batch of Irish Soda Bread scones!
Perfect for working on fine motor skills, this St. Patrick’s Day craft is ideal for toddlers and preschool kids. The supplies are safe (and tasty), and you can do anything from a rainbow to a shamrock.
A lesson in gratitude as well as a fun St. Patrick’s Day craft for preschool and kindergarten kids, you can buy the template from Teachers Pay Teachers by clicking here.
Your kids will have a sham-rocking time making up stories about these happy shamrocks. Find out how to make a few of these cheerful characters over at Typically Simple.
It's icky, it's gooey, but it's also so pretty! This Shamrock Slime from As The Bunny Hops is bound to not only entice your neighborhood leprechaun but also provide hours of fun, too.
St. Patrick's Day is all about enjoying rainbows and leprechauns! Help the kids craft this whimsical Rainbow Wand Shaker from Happy Mothering. Made with household supplies you probably already have lying around, this brightly colored (and noisy) project will keep your kids busy all afternoon.
Whether your kiddo is looking to make a gift for a friend, or just expand their jewelry collection, this rainbow bracelet from Simple Everyday Mom is perfect. Brightly colored rainbow beads are strung up on stretchable cord, then attached to a cute, free printable!
Let your kids get their craft on with these fun mosaic paper shamrocks from Happiness is Homemade. Simple paper shamrocks are covered in multi-colored squares for a handmade and unique craft that's perfect for St. Patty's.
Perfect for little learners, this preschool St. Patrick's Day rainbow craft from The Nerd's Wife is a great way to spend the afternoon. With just three supplies, this colorful DIY project is simple enough to avoid a trip to the craft store, but it still packs tons of fun.
Hide pots of gold around the house with this cute craft from Willowday. All you need to pull it off is a paper cup and some colorful ribbons. Click here to get the scoop.
Let your little leprechauns get messy with this cute creation from Kids Craft Room. They’ll have fun experimenting with paint colors and making different shapes.
If you’ve got paper plates and paint on hand, you’re all set to make a leprechaun mask like this one from Kids Craft Room. Complete with a leprechaun’s signature hat and ginger beard, kids will have a blast wearing their creations around the house.
Chasing a rainbow is not as tricky as it seems, thanks to Craft Knife’s clever use of marzipan in place of clay to make lucky rainbows. Best part? They can eat their creations without getting sick.
DIY Fairy Garden
Sara Olsher
The Irish have a long-standing relationship with The Little People of lore, and the leprechaun is one of the most famous this time of year. Craft a fairy garden for your little visitors using houseplants, doll furniture, and more. Click here to learn how to DIY it for the wee folk.
Kids can make a sweet rainbow out of colorful mini marshmallows—and maybe snack on a few while they're at it. Head over to No Time for Flashcards to get the instructions for this easy St. Patrick's Day craft.
Hands On As We Grow came up with this light-catching craft that's perfect for tiny tots. Kids can go wild arranging tissue paper and glitter, then just keep it in place with contact paper.
How adorable is this little guy from Moments of Mommyhood? Put your old toilet paper rolls to good use by crafting wee leprechauns to display around the house.
Brighten up your wintery scene with these beautiful rainbow sun catchers that are the perfect touch for your St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Melissa Lennig of Fireflies and Mudpies breaks it all down for you.
This simple St. Patrick's Day rainbow coloring page opens up a world of possibilities for your little artist! Sarah McClelland from Little Bins for Little Hands has it for you, along with a great recipe for puffy paint!
Going green has never been more fun than when you’ve got your own little leprechauns on the loose. From parades to “greening of the fountains,” Atlanta is one lucky place to be. Here are our favorite spots around town to kiss the Blarney Stone.
Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade: Saturday, March 12
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The Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade, which dates back to 1848, is one of the oldest parades of its kind in the U.S. and longest running event in Atlanta’s history. It returns to the streets of Midtown. The family-friendly event will feature highlights such as the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales and the world’s largest walking flag, which is carried by dozens of marchers. Previous year’s parades were attended by more than 80,000 spectators, so plan to get there early via MARTA.
Where: Peachtree St. and 16th St. in Midtown from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Online:atlantastpats.com
Smyrna St. Patrick's Day Fest: Thursday, March 17 and Saturday, March 19
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Paddy like no one's watching at the 18th Annual St. Paddy's Day Festival at the Smyrna Market Village, and little clovers are welcome to join Thursday afternoon and all day Saturday. 13 years and younger get in free. The weekend will have brew-tiful weather accompanied by live music, the dyeing of the fountain green by Smyrna's mayor (Thursday 6 p.m.), Cornhole ATL, drink specials, and games for the little clovers all day long!
Where: Smyrna Market Village, 2840 Atlanta Rd. Smyrna Online:facebook.com
ShamRock The Station: Thursday, March 17
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Central Park will be turning green with free activities and music all day, including musicians, stilt walkers, airbrush tattoo artists, balloon artists, Irish dancers, and bagpipes.
Experience a purely gold St. Patrick's Day celebration during Luck of Avalon! Calling all lads, lassies, and little leprechauns! Join us on Friday, March 11th as we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Avalon style at Luck of Avalon. Get ready to sham-ROCK the night away in the Plaza with special performances from King O'Sullivan School of Irish Dance + North Georgia Pipes and Drums, live music, Irish flair + of course, green beer.
Worth the Drive: Shamrock City (Rock City Gardens) March 12, 13, 19 & 20
Up for a day trip? Then visit Rock City's annual St. Patrick's Day festival. It's less than a two-hour drive north of Atlanta—and you'll enjoy traditional Irish food (and some non-traditional like green fudge!) plus learn an Irish jig. Take a fun family picture with a St. Patty's-themed costume character. Before you leave, make sure you stop by the Blarney Stone Climbing Wall, where kids can win a "lucky surprise" for reaching the top.
Where: Rock City Gardens, 1400 Patten Rd., Lookout Mountain from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online:www.seerockcity.com
Now that you have kids, you may think celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago is a distant (and perhaps foggy) memory. Well, think again. From the northern ‘burbs to the far south side, there’s something for everyone looking to go green this month. Check out these family-friendly festivities and Erin Go Bragh (aka Ireland til the end of time)!
Seek Out a Sweet St. Patrick's Day Themed Treat
Charm'd
Charm'd Pop-Up. This magical pop-up is an enchanting, over-the-top, multi-room, multi-level Irish experience. Featuring wall-to-wall Irish decor, lucky charms, multiple bars, photo-ops and a whole lot of leprechaun mischief. Best news for parents? Kids are welcome during the day.
Open as of Feb. 10; 3505 N. Clark St., Lakeview. More info.
Jo Jo's Shake Bar's Candy Land. Life doesn't get any sweeter than at Jo Jo's Candy Land. In this immersive dining experience, you'll experience over-the-top shakes, biggie hot chocolates, signature cocktails and delicious diner fare.
Open through Apr. 24; 23 W. Hubbard, River North. More info.
Stans Donuts & Coffee. Satisfy sweet tooths with Chocolate Emerald Dipped, Chocolate Green Mint Dipped, Green River Glazed, Chocolate Milk Emerald and Irish Cream Bismark. Wash it all down with Green Mint Hot Chocolate.
Chicago River Dyeing. The first Mayor Daley kicked off this tradition in 1962 and every year since the Chicago River has turned bright green to kick off the city’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Boats speed through dropping 40 pounds of eco-safe dye that starts orange and miraculously turns green for a spectacle that lasts for a few magical hours.
Mar. 12, 9 a.m.; Best viewed along the Riverwalk between Columbus & State, Loop. More Info.
Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Elmhurst's parade features over 80 floats, Irish Dancers, the Shannon Rovers, Benny the Bull, Southpaw, Tommy Hawk, Irish musical performers and the world's largest drum. But, the parade is only the beginning. Stay for a festive day of food, music and family activities.
Mar. 5, noon; Wilson St. & Spring Rd. & continues north on Spring Rd., Elmhurst. More info.
Downtown Parade. Rain, shine, snow or sleet, since 1956 our fair city has been hosting the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade starts at Balbo and Columbus and heads north in a procession chock-full of colorful floats, bagpipes, Irish dancers, marching bands and more.
Mar. 12, noon; Columbus Dr. between Balbo & Monroe, Grant Park. More info.
West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade & 5K. A 5K chip-timed Race, Run or Walk will kick things off at a perky 8 a.m., followed by the parade at 10 a.m through historic downtown Naperville.
Mar. 12; 8 a.m. (5K) & 10 a.m. (Parade); Downtown Naperville. More info.
South Side Irish Parade. The South Side Irish Parade began in 1979 as a small neighborhood affair that eventually grew into one of the largest celebrations outside of Dublin. The two-hour shindig features more than 90 acts meandering up Western Ave. for a day of festive flair.
Mar. 13, noon; Western Ave. between 103rd & 115th Streets. More info.
Northwest Irish Parade. The Northwest Irish Organization (NWSI) kicks off its 19th annual parade to celebrate all things Irish. With a large group of parade participants, this is always a fun-filled hour and a half for the whole family.
Mar. 13, noon; 6633 W. Raven, Norwood Park. More info.
Cruise the River
Chicago Fireboat Cruise
Chicago Fireboat Tours. The fully restored 1937 Chicago Fireboat is kicking off its season on St. Patrick's Day. Book the 8 a.m. tour to watch the annual Chicago River dyeing or book a tour in the afternoon to see it in its green glory.
Mar. 12, 9 a.m., noon & 4 p.m.; DuSable Harbor, 111 N. Lake Shore Dr., Loop. More Info.
Intro Your Kids to St. Patrick's Day-Style Fun
Gallagher Way
Shamrock'n The Block. This family-friendly pop-up pub will include beverages, tasty pub fare, live music, Irish dancers and activities for kids.
Mar. 12, noon-6:30 p.m.; Adams & Desplaines St., West Loop. More info.
St. Patrick’s Festival. Immediately following the downtown parade, head over to the Irish American Heritage Center on the northwest side for the after-party. This family-oriented annual event will include traditional and contemporary Irish music, Irish dancers, food and drink, children’s activities and an arts-and-crafts fair with an Irish flair.
Mar. 12, immediately following the parade; 4626 N. Knox Ave., Irving Park. More info.
Gallagher Way. Immerse yourself in the celebratory spirit of St. Patrick's Day with Irish dancing, music by Old Town School of Folk Music, face painting, a wandering magician, balloon artists, crafts and games. The first 500 guests receive a free cake ball from West Town Bakery.
Mar. 13, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; 3635 N. Clark St., Lakeview. More info.
Chicago Gaelic Park. While Chicago Gaelic Park celebrates Irish culture all year round on its 62-acre Oak Forest campus, things really ramp up for South Side Irish Sunday. With live music, an Irish feast and kids activities you'll find something that’ll excite the Irish lover in you.
Mar. 13, 1 p.m.; 6119 W. 147th St., Oak Forest. More info.
Cantigny Park. If you’re in the mood for just a bit of shenanigans this year, gather your wee ones for a day of stories, crafts and Irish treats at Little Leprechauns.
Mar. 17, 10 a.m.; 1s151 N. Winfield Rd., Wheaton. More info.
Yorktown Center. Hit up the Yappy Hour event in the Dog Lounge that includes a St. Patrick's Day-themed selfie photo-opp, decorations and costumes along with a dog "beer" tasting and shamrock-shaped dog treats.
Mar. 17, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; Yorktown Center, 203 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard. More info.
If you’re going to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you’ve got to do it right. Wear green, learn the lyrics to The Unicorn and take your taste buds on a tour of Ireland. Chicago has no shortage of spots to sample the best of what Ireland has to offer. Here are our favorites:
Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant. Chief O’Neill’s could not feel more authentic if it were in the heart of county Cork itself. Home to the Irish Music School of Chicago, Chief O’Neill’s serves up traditional dishes such as lamb stew, shepherd’s pie, and Guinness-infused meatloaf. With live traditional Irish music and a “little leprechauns” menu featuring more American than Irish fare, you can’t go wrong!
Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro. The Chicago Tribune called Mrs. Murphy’s “one of Chicago’s most authentic Irish restaurants," and for good reason. The menu is vast, with everything from a traditional Irish breakfast to Guinness mac n’ cheese to award-winning barbecue—not to mention its intriguing collection of craft beers and vast whiskey selection.
Quigley’s Irish Pub. Talk about authentic… Quigley’s was designed and built in Ireland and then shipped to its current location in downtown Naperville. The interior includes an authentic antique fireplace and bookcases from Dublin and custom glass and Irish prints fill the walls. Of course, the menu is filled with traditional Irish favorites, such as corned beef, lamb stew and beef braised with Guinness.
Irish Times Pub. The Irish Times is a unique combination of old-school tradition and new-school thinking. Inside this “cozy cottage” you’ll find genuine Irish whiskeys, ales and beers (and faces) behind the bar. If you could see the back office, you’d find a progressive recycling program, a commitment to efficient gas and electric usage and a dedication to sourcing as much local produce as possible, including beers from local craft breweries. These ingredients are used in classic, homemade favorites such as corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie and fish & chips, all from family recipes.
Ballydoyle Pub. Enjoy a special St. Pat’s Family Day at Ballydoyle! Take the kids to the pub, Mar. 12, 10 a.m (Aurora). & Mar. 13, 11 a.m. (Downers Grove) for Irish brunch featuring family activities, crafts, live music and dancing. The traditional pub menu is filled with Irish classics including boxty (a potato pancake folded over and filled with different meats and vegetables) and Irish bread pudding.
28 W. New York St., Aurora & 5157 Main St., Downers Grove; ballydoylepub.com
Bring Home the Grub
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Throwing a St. Paddy’s bash at your place? Get all the goods for your guests at these Irish import shops and markets:
Gaelic Imports. Since 1957, Gaelic Imports has carried the largest selection of Irish groceries in the Midwest, including freshly made sausage rolls, bridies, steak & kidney pies and soda bread to name a few. Oh, and if you’re looking for something to wear to a party or a vessel to serve the punch, they sell clothes and Galway crystal too.
Jack & Pat’s Old Fashioned Butcher Shop. This is the epitome of a family-run business. Started by brothers Jack Powers and Kenneth Patrick Powers in 1972, the quaint and aptly named old-fashioned butcher shop is now run by three of Jack’s children. If you’re in the southwest suburbs, be sure to stop at Jack & Pat’s for every kind of meat you can imagine, or have them cater your corned beef and cabbage dinner.
Mariano's. Stock up on Irish from the international aisle to the bakery. Look for Green River Soda (local to Chicago), Guinness Chips (thick-cut, crisped and seasoned with barley and hops), Barry's Tea (an Irish household staple), Mariano's Soda Bread (baked fresh daily), Bailey's Irish Cream (needs no introduction), Reuben Sausages (handmade with corned beef and sauerkraut, Kerrygold Butter (use milk sourced from grass-fed cows) and Jameson Ginger Ale & Lime (ready-to-drink canned cocktail with ginger ale, lime and Jameson Irish Whiskey).
The creativity of Chicago families—with the help of museums, playspaces and local business—with home-schooling solutions and stay-at-home adventuring has been quite impressive. But truth be told, we’re missing being hands-on with our city, a ton. Here are the things that top our agenda when the gates swing open and we can hit the city streets once again.
There are zero doubts to be had, we are a sports town. We've got massive spirit . . . and infinite amounts of patience. Soaking up the sun at the historic Wrigley Field, cheering on the south side at a Sox game, standing for the iconic National Anthem performed at a Hawks game (no one does it better), bundled up and shivering in the seats at a Bears game and sitting on the edge of our seats at a Bulls showdown—we want to do it all!
Imagine one of those Chicago summer days that are perfection—the ones we mentally hold on to all 6 months of winter.
Cruising Lake Shore Drive with the windows in the down position, music on as max as the kids will allow it, singing-along-ish to the lyrics we know well enough to butcher, legs sticking to the leather seats from the sweltering heat. Warm breeze tangling your hair made wretched by the humidity, sun's rays skipping off the lake, bikers, walkers and runners bringing life to the path, beach volleyball game in full swing, families with day camps set up in the sand, the city's flowers along the drive in full glory bringing vibrance to LSD. . . heaven at its best.
River Roast
Such a simple pleasure, but we really just can't wait to sit outside on a patio and linger over a meal, sipping a cocktail at dinner or mimosa at brunch. People-watching, or boat-watching at the riverwalk restaurants, and in no hurry to be anywhere but in that exact moment.
Chicago has consistently been ranked as one of the most fun places to spend St. Patrick's Day, and deservedly so. Every single Chicagoan is Irish on March 17 (and many days before and after). Covid-19 robbed us of our celebrations this year, but we like to think the luck of the Irish is on our side and we'll be back at it next year with pop-up Irish bars, green beer, corned beef and cabbage, Irish festivals and parades, and our super fancy green river.
Chicago Children's Museum
Hit up a local library, book store, museum or shop—wherever you prefer to get in touch with your literary side—for a storytime.
Maggie Daley Park, City of Chicago
Raise your hand if you thought you'd ever see a day where parks were off-limits? Bueller? Bueller? No one? Necessary craziness, but, holy moly. Skip over to your favorite park, hop on a swing, squeal down the slide and cherish hearing your kid plead for just 5 more minutes as the sun sets on the day.
Lincoln Park Zoo, Maria Chambers
Netflix's Tiger King has us all appreciating the integrity of legit zoos, and we can't wait until our two favorites swing open the gates again. Brookfield Zoo welcomed two new male African lions, Brutus and Titus, that we can't wait to meet in person and meandering the Lincoln Park Zoo paths that sit in view of the city skyline and sing-a-longs with Mr. Singer are family-memory-making highlights.
Grab your highest-capacity reusable bag and head to your favorite neighborhood farmers market—or try a new one! Some favorites of farmers market connoisseur are the ones in Andersonville, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, Green City Market, Wicker Park and Chicago French Market. Try 'em all!
SafeHouse
Chicago's culinary game is so dang strong. It rivals any city in the world for the quality and diversity of restaurants.
Never again will we take for granted physically eating in a restaurant. Having someone else prepare a meal enjoyed as a family—or on a date night. We'll even overlook the sibling arguments over which restaurant to go to and the noisiness and over-the-top-ness of the ones the kids typically prefer.
Adler Planetarium
Space, dinosaurs, science, art, aquatic life—no matter your kid's interest, a day exploring at a Chicago museum is a day very well spent! The creative forces behind Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, MSI, Art Institute of Chicago and Shedd Aquarium give us access to so much coolness and we can't wait to get back at it!
wndr
Speaking of museums. We've seen a wave of experiential pop-up museums come through Chicago and they're oh, so fun for the family! We can't wait to visit a favorite that's made themselves a permanent fixture in the West Loop, wndr.
Editor’s note: We’re making every effort to provide you with the most up-to-date information. However, sometimes closures occur at the last minute due to circumstances beyond our control, such as the spread of Covid-19. We highly recommend that you call ahead before you pack your kids pack your kids (and all those snacks, and diapers…) and haul them across town. Stay safe!
Make room on your calendar because we’ve got Peppa Pig at the LA Zoo, caterpillar adoptions at Kidspace, dancing with Debbie Allen and oh-so much more. Read on for all the details!
"Onward" at El Capitan Theatre
Mar. 5-Mar. 22. For two weeks in March, Pixar's latest movie, Onward, will be playing at Hollywood's historic El Capitan Theatre. There will be pre-show photo ops in front of the Onward mural wall in the lobby, plus a chance to meet a real-life version of Guinevere, the groovy purple van (aka mighty steed) in the movie. Event details.
Sun., March 8. Join Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen and instructors from Debbie Allen Dance Academy for the 5th season of outdoor dancing for the whole family! The free event takes place at The Wallis's Promenade Terrace and this month will feature salsa with Debbie Allen, a live band and more. Event details.
Sun., March 8. Join thousands of Los Angeles Marathon runners and their supporters for an afternoon of free music, games, giveaways and more at the official Finish Festival on the Third Street Promenade. The festival is FREE and open to the public. Come down and party! Event details.
Butterfly Celebration at Kidspace
Courtesy of Kidspace
Sat. & Sun., March 14-15. Help Kidspace launch the 2020 Butterfly Season—and caterpillar adoption bonanza! Enjoy themed activities around the museum, catch our roaming butterflies Dot and Spot, and also learn how to attract butterflies to your yard at a Pollinator Garden Family Workshop. Event details.
Fairytale Weekend at Santa Barbara Zoo
Courtesy of Santa Barbara Zoo
Sat. & Sun., March 14-15. Up for a quick road trip? Take the kiddos to the Santa Barbara Zoo, just 90 miles north of LA for this special event, honoring the world’s many and varied frogs and amphibians. Little ones can meet Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and more, plus participate in frog-inspired crafts and games. Event details.
LA Camp Fair at UCLA
istock
Sun., March 15. Over 50 summer camps and programs will be on display at the UCLA Los Angeles Summer Camp Fair. You will be able to go booth-to-booth meeting camp counselors, directors, and staff from over 100 participating camps and learn about their programs. There will also be games, prizes, raffles, and animals to play with for the kids, not to mention delicious food and an all-around good time. Event details.
Sat., March 14. Celebrate spring with your favorite animal friends after hours aboard Noah’s Ark. Adults and kids, wear your PJs and play with puppets, tell stories, enjoy dinner together, make new friends, and have loads of fun! Event details.
Peppa Pig Meet & Greet at LA Zoo
Jamie Pham for LA Zoo
Sat. & Sun., March 14-15. For one weekend, the LA Zoo will make room for a very special little piglet. Bring the kids to meet sassy, Brit pig Peppa Pig and enjoy a full day of Peppa-themed activities, including story time, crafts, a kids’ dance party and much more! Event details.
St. Patrick’s Day Community March and Celebration
istock
Tues., March 17. We wouldn't forget St. Paddy's Day now would we? While the kids may not be up for a pub crawl (green beer and all), the whole fam can march in this fun-filled parade. Afterwards, there will be live music, giveaways, food and dancing.Event details.
Sat., March 21. Over 4.1 miles of Long Beach streets will be completely closed to traffic and filled with safe and exciting activities for all ages. Along the route, there will be numerous stops bustling with music, games, vendors, food, and much more. All forms of non-motorized transit are welcome—including bikes, strollers, scooters and hoofers! Event details.
International Children's Day Festival
Courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific
Sat. & Sun, March 28-29. Celebrate the children in your life at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s International Children’s Day Festival. The event features performances by kids, including songs and dances from Native American, African, Mexican, Pacific Islander, and Asian cultures. Kids of all ages can participate in an international percussion circle, along with children’s crafts and games. Event details.
Peacock Live! at Universal Studios
Mimi O'Connor
Sat. & Sun., March 28-29. Get ready for the first-ever Peacock Live! on the historic backlot at Universal Studios Hollywood. Be among the first to experience DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls World Tour, plus meet beloved characters Poppy, Branch and Guy Diamond, and transform into a Troll yourself with a once-in-a-Trolls time photo experience. But wait—there's more! You can also step into an interactive Minions experience, get up close and snap a selfie with life-size Jurassic World and so much more!Event details.
Cocktails at the push of a button? Um, sign us up. K-Cups for cocktails are an actual thing, making us all mixologist moms.
Drinkworks by Keurig works just like the coffee pod drink maker you already know and love—but, of course, the major difference is that instead of making caffeinated goodness, these machines brew up batches of your fave cocktails!
So how exactly does the Drinkworks drinkmaker work? Let’s say you’re not exactly Tom Cruise in Cocktail when it comes to making mixed drinks. Just pop one of the Keurig pods into the machine, add water and that’s it! The pods include the alcohol and the ingredients while the machine carbonates and chills your mixed drink of choice.
Make the most of this mixologist-like gadget. Drinkworks also comes with a an app, providing you with info on unboxing and setting up your machine, ordering pods, making drinks and monitoring the drinkmaker’s cleaning status.
The current menu of Drinkworks pods includes Cosmopolitan, Daiquiri, Gin and Tonic, Lime Vodka Soda, Margarita, Strawberry Margarita, Mojito, Moscow Mule, Old Fashioned, Red Sangria, White Russian, White Wine Peach Sangria and Mai Tai. The pods also come in British classic flights, Beck’s classic flights and Stella Artois cidre.
Visit the Drinkworks website for product availability.
With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, it’s a good idea to know where you and your little leprechauns can go to celebrate your inner (or outer) Irish. From parades and festivals to gold hunts and corned beef, there are lots of options for everyone to have a sham-rocking good time! Read on to discover the merriment you’ll definitely find at the end of this rainbow!
Seaside St. Patrick’s Day Parade
In true small-town, parade-by-the-beach fashion, this Hermosa Beach annual event certainly brings on the Irish with school marching bands, bagpipers, floats, horses and Irish Setters. Grab a curbside seat with your wee ones, throw on some green and prepare to watch the revelry unfold. Afterward, march yourselves over to Hennessey’s Tavern to refuel the family (and to keep the St. Patrick’s Day fun going!). Sat. Mar. 17.Event details.
County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Bring the family for a scenic drive up the coast and celebrate St. Patty’s Day with true California heroes at this festively grand parade. Not only will there be bands, Irish dancers, fire trucks, antique vehicles and four-legged pets to entertain the masses, but this year’s parade theme is “Ventura Strong” honoring the Thomas Fire first responders making this parade is truly worth its weight in gold. Sat. Mar. 17.Event details.
Can You Find Lucky the Leprechaun’s Pot of Gold?
On the Friday morning before St. Patrick’s Day, enjoy a story with the Malibu Public Library’s Children’s librarian, create holiday-inspired art, hunt for gold, win a prize and eat a snack fit for a leprechaun (or two). Be sure to keep your Irish eyes peeled for the special surprise guest scheduled to make an appearance! Fri. Mar. 16.Event details.
St. Patrick’s Day at the Original Farmer’s Market
Frolicking fun is in full Irish effect with live music, corned beef and cabbage, green beer and lots o’ cheer at the Original Farmers Market on St. Patrick’s Day. A bagpiper strolls the Market in the afternoon and a traditional Irish folk singer plays in the evening. It’s the perfect place to get a little shopping done while you and the family get your green on! Sat. Mar. 17. Event details.
Head For The Hills!
Valley families can stay local and check out this event, hosted by the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center on St. Patrick’s Day, which features Irish bands, festive food, jumpers, rock climbing, a silent raffle basket auction, and plenty more live entertainment. Did we mention it’s free? Sat. Mar. 12.Event details.
Emerald Isle Merriment in Thousand Oaks
Give your wee lads and lassies a taste of what it truly means to be Irish with this spectacular event celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Prepare to be whisked away to the shores of County Kerry with performances by a traditional Irish orchestra, champion dancers and festive songs that will have everyone dancing in the aisles! Takes place Sun. Mar.11.Event Details.
Pretend City St. Patrick’s Day Festivities
If you’re looking to really knock the sham-socks off your little people on St. Patrick’s Day, then a drive to Pretend City Children’s Museum is the perfect mini day-trip. Celebrate the season with an end-of-the-rainbow treasure hunt, sensational storytelling and a Pretend City-wide search for leprechauns hiding in the exhibits! Don’t forget to wear your greenest of green for an Irish inspired heading home parade. Sat. Mar. 17.Event details.
St. Patrick’s Day 5K in Redondo Beach
What better way to kick off St. Patrick’s Day festivities then with a bright-and-early South Bay run for the whole family? Sign up for the 5K course if you’re feeling sprightly or kids (ages 4 – 9) can enter the shorter “Little Leprechaun Dash For the Gold” race. All participants get a St. Patrick’s Day run t-shirt and children participants receive a “gold” medal upon crossing the finish line! Advance registration required. Sat. Mar. 17.Event details.
Irish Eats and Treats
photo: Wikimedia Commons
Bring the Irish Home
Field Trip! Bring the kids to wander through a treasure trove of Irish delights from the typical “Kiss Me I’m Irish” t-shirts to food that would be at home in any Irish chalet: crazy flavored crisps, Irish bangers, PG tips, spotted dick and puddings in cans, real English baked beans, biscuits, scone and soda bread mixes and chocolates you can’t get in the US that will delight any child (and adult – seriously, their Cadbury is a whole different animal from what’s made here!). Tucked into a tiny, and truthfully, slightly dingy, strip mall in Hollywood, the Irish Import Shop is well worth a trip, even if it’s just to meet the Irish-to-the-core owner. You’ll also find cookbooks, clothes and more things made in Ireland than you can shake a shillelagh at, so you can stock up for an authentic celebration at home.
742 Vine St.
Los Angeles, CA
323-467-6714
Make Their Own Shamrock Shakes!
Turns out the younger set might not be on board with traditional Irish dining so if the thought of kidney stew or blood sausage turns them a non-festive shade of green, sign them up for a kids cooking class at BLVD Kitchen before St. Patrick’s Day for a special taste of Ireland. Here they will learn to make soda bread, Irish meatballs, and mashed potatoes all under the careful supervision of professional cooking instructors. Throw in a shamrock shake nightcap and your sweet sprouts will be dancing a jig the whole way home. Space is limited so sign up online in advance. Ages 6 – 10. Sat. Mar. 10.Event details.
The Irish Times in West LA,Casey’s Downtown, Bergin’s in Mid-City, Auld Dubliner in Long Beach, Irelands 32 in Van Nuys, Finn McCools and O’Brien’s in Santa Monica all serve up hearty portions of Irish food, like corned beef & cabbage or bangers & mash, and beer with a heaping side of Irish music, accents, football on the TVs and more to set the mood. While most of these pub-style spots welcome kids during the day, you should call ahead to confirm as St. Patty’s day crowds can be a bit too rowdy for the young ones. Instead, we recommend wetting your whistles the weekend before or after, where you can get all the atmosphere and none of the crazy.
Dance Like The Irish Are Watching
Michael Flatley’s Riverdance may have hoisted Irish performance into the world spotlight, but Irish Dancing isn’t just a stage show – it’s an ancient Celtic art form. And if you thought tutus and buns were cute, wait till you get a load of gillies and ringlets. Enroll your tiny dancers (or yourself) in a class to explore your Irish side, at Celtic Dance Academy, one of our favorite Irish Dance studios in town.
Where are you and your family going to be seen in green? Let us know in the comments below!
