With many of our beloved St. Patrick’s Day traditions cancelled again this year – no parade, no bar crawls, no in-person Irish bands – we wanted to share our ideas of how to keep the festivities alive.
Boston’s Irish-American History
Learn about Irish-American history by checking out the Irish Heritage Trail. The trail is a guide to landmarks of Irish-American artists and heroes from the 1700s to the present here in Massachusetts. The Trail is divided into three sections: 20 sites in downtown Boston and Back Bay, covering over three miles: and over 20 other landmarks in Boston neighborhoods, cities and towns throughout the state.
Irish Music – The Dropkick Murphy’s, Of Course!
Dropkick Murphys are back in person! While the Fenway show on St. Paddy’s day is sold out (can we really be surprised?) they are still offering a live stream concert. For more information check out their official site.
Make Your Own Authentic Irish Meal
We have Irish Beef Stew, Irish Soda Bread, Slow Cooked Corned Beef with Cabbage and Colcannon on our menus. (And we’ll be pairing it with a green drink!)
While members of our team are enjoying baking a few special St. Patty’s Day treats at home, restaurants and bars across the city will also have special food and drink items to celebrate the holiday like the IRISH SODA BREAD DOUGHNUT from Blackbird Doughnuts available in March only! You can also order custom-made cookies from @_confections based in Easton, MA. (Presale ends this Sunday, so get your orders in!)
HAVE A MOVIE NIGHT
Featuring more than 40 new Irish feature films, documentaries and shorts, the Irish Film Festival will run a virtual edition of their annual festival over five days starting March 17, 2021. If you’re in the mood for an Irish film, why not have a movie night in? Pop some popcorn and check out one of the films from this list of the Best Irish Movies on Netflix.
Irish Pubs
Irish Pubs across the city have created some amazing outdoor patio dining options if you’re looking to dine in and all offer delicious take out so you can enjoy Irish fare at home:
- JJ Foleys: Family owned and operated since 1909 in Boston’s South End.
- The Druid: Located in Inman Square and serve a mean Irish breakfast on the weekends.
- Mr. Dooley’s: Located in downtown Boston and now offering curbside pick-up boxes, Thursday – Sunday – choose from the Irish Grill Kit or Imported Irish Box.
- The Burren: Head to Somerville to try their Guinness Beef Stew or vegetarian shepherd’s pie.
If you are looking for an alternative, why not do a beer or whiskey tasting at home? Buy a few varieties of Ireland’s best and enjoy these spirits at home. You can even create a food menu to prepare at home that pairs well with each beer or whiskey offering.
Make a Leprechaun Trap
Kids will love to use their imagination and creativity to design their own Leprechaun Trap using craft supplies around the house and some leprechaun bait…think Lucky Charms, gold coins or chocolates. There are tons of design ideas floating around Pinterest and both The Surburban Soapbox and The Best Ideas for Kids walk you through some easy, fun ideas.
Green is Our Favorite Color
Show your St. Patrick’s Day spirit by dressing in all green. Extra points for shamrocks! If you have a store-front business, consider hiring a local artist to put some festive paint to your windows.
Need help figuring out how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year? Learn more about our Holiday Services and how we can make your celebrations memorable.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2017 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.