Celebrating St. Patrick's Day Without Alcohol

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day Without Alcohol Photo via Pixabay by Jill111 St. Patrick’s Day is a time for fun and celebration all over the country, but over the years it has become synonymous with a day full of drinking. For individuals who are in recovery or who simply don’t drink, it can be difficult to find activities or events that celebrate the holiday rather than alcohol.

However, there are many ways you can have fun this year that don’t involve imbibing; it just takes a bit of creativity and some planning. Not only is it important for individuals who are in recovery to steer clear of places and events that could cause a potential relapse, it’s a good way to have a great time with your family and spend the day with each other rather than partying. It’s also an incentive to stay safe instead of getting behind the wheel after celebrating; look for family-friendly activities here.

Here are a few of the best ways to have fun on St. Patrick’s Day without alcohol.

Look to your city for help

Many cities around the country hold St. Patrick’s Day parades and events that are fun for all ages; you might spend the day with your kids, taking in free music, eating good food, and engaging in fun activities like face painting or dancing. Look online to find out what your city is offering up on that day, or consider taking a little road trip to a nearby town to check out what events they have going on.

Learn something new

Ireland is full of history and rich culture, yet the festivities of St. Patrick’s Day rarely focus on them. Take this day to learn something new about Ireland and its people; look up a classic Irish recipe and cook it for dinner, find out more about your favorite Irish actor, or dig into some Irish music. It’s not all Celtic woodwinds; there are some great contemporary Irish bands and musicians who have found popularity in the U.S., such as The Cranberries, U2, Flogging Molly, and The Corrs.

Partner up

Refraining from drinking on St. Patrick’s Day may make you feel left out, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Partner up with a sober friend and go out to dinner, or stay in and binge-watch some Irish-centric Netflix shows and movies. Here’s a list of a few of the best. If you’d rather be out with your friends, offer to be the DD for the night to get them all home safely.

Get literary

A great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your family is to look up some Irish lit. Head to the library and look up poetry and fairy tales with roots in Ireland, then head home and have storytime. Encourage your children to make up their own fairy tales and talk about how they can be an allegory for something else. Use this time to teach your little ones about writing and using their imaginations.

Learn to dance

One of the things the Irish people are known for is dancing, so push back the coffee table and look up a tutorial on YouTube. Legend has it that the traditional form of Irish dance--which mostly moves the feet and legs but keeps the upper body straight--came about because pubs were so crowded back in the day that dancers had to be creative with how they moved.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day can be anything you make it; don’t feel as though you have to rely on alcohol to have a good time. Talk to your family members about the best ways you can have fun together without heading to a pub and turn it into a new tradition.