St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

Whoop it up this St. Patrick's Day with fun ideas for party-goers of all ages who want to celebrate their Irish heritage or who just want to be Irish for a day! Below, find the fixin's for favorite party foods, drinks, decorating, games and activities, with related St. Paddy's Day party resources from around the Web ....

Irish Food & Fixin's

Boil up the traditional corned beef and cabbage with sides of potatoes, carrots (and lots of butter) or head off the main road to serve an old-fashioned Irish Lamb Stew, or Colcannon (in the UK it's called "bubble and squeak'). If you're really feeling your oats, how about a traditional Shepherd's Pie made with chunks of lamb and vegetables?

Goin' Green

A splash o' green on party streamers, tableclothes and tableware will get guests in the mood for some serious St. Patrick's Day partyin'! Have plenty of green food dye to color the beer and other St. Patrick's Day party drinks (and don't forget a mug of Irish coffee for dessert!)

And what would St. Patrick's Day be without an authentic recipe for Irish soda bread?

St. Patrick's Day Songs, Games and Activities

Get them rolling in the aisles with an Irish Jig Dance Off with prizes for the best, most creative or funniest interpretation set to traditional Irish music on the CD player.

A round of Irish trivia is always fun, or get your guests moving at a St. Patrick's Day scavenger hunt with Irish-themed items hidden about the house. Of course, for a real authentic party atmosphere, decorate a part of the house to look like an Irish pub and let the darts game tournament begin!

Meanwhile, you can keep the little ones busy with downloadable St. Patrick's Day coloring pages, puzzles and craft activities. Just for laughs, also get the adults involved in constructing a Leprechaun trap that's easily made with a cardboard box and an old shoe!

Send guests home extra happy with party goodie bags filled with a combination of treats to take with them including shamrock plants, gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins, green mint candies, shamrock stickers, or "Kiss Me I'm Irish" pins.

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

More about St. Patrick's Day party ideas around the Web:

St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas from Evite

Oktoberfest Party & Food Ideas

Nothing says autumn fun like Oktoberfest! A centuries-old tradition begun in Munich, Germany, the seasonal festival is now beloved the world over and celebrated everywhere from Tokyo to Milwaukee.

Host your own Oktoberfest party with these step-by-step tips and instructions, and get ready for some fall fun, feasting .... and lots of beer:

1. Willkommen friends over by printing your own invitations using German Oktberfest clipart of beer kegs, beer steins, beer glasses, bratwurst or party goers in lederhosen.

2. Decorate in the colors of the Bavarian flag, with lots of blue and white balloons. Also consider German travel posters, or printouts of Bavarian food and beer steins to hang on the door and walls.

3. To make your venue look like a traditional German beer hall, line up tables in a long row - for a fun night of communal feasting and drinking. Use a beer stein or beer pitcher filled with fresh flowers, and surround with small German flags as an easy and decorative centerpiece.

4. Search the Web for traditional German & Oktoberfest food and recipes which are a tradition of any German party or Oktoberfest theme - such as weiner schnitzel, bratwurst, sauerkraut, gingerbread, apple strudel and black forest cake.

5. And what would an Oktoberfest be without the beer? Just make sure it's German beer such as pilsner, wheat beer, stouts and lagers.

6. Get everybody in the party mood by playing a German music or drinking song collection CD, or if your budget allows hire a local German band for a memorable live performance.

7. Lastly, no Oktoberfest celebration would be complete without a traditional chicken dance to get everyone up and mingling. (It's even more fun after hoisting a few!)

Prost! – Cheers!

More about Oktoberfest party & food ideas around the Web:

Oktoberfest Party Ideas

Oktoberfest Party Foods & Recipes

Oktoberfest Party Ideas and German Theme Party

Elvis Birthday Party Ideas

Yes, the King still lives! His music and films continue to inspire Elvis themed weddings and Elvis birthday parties that are still going strong worldwide commemorating the rock n roll icon.

Celebrating Elvis is as easy as turning the ol' jukebox on (today, that's a CD or DVD player) and letting the good times roll. Decorate with Elvis posters, feature some popular 50's foods, add a party game or two - and you have all the makings for a hunka hunka popular party idea.

Set the mood by selecting a general Elvis theme, or center the party around one of his most popular movie hits like Viva Las Vegas or Blue Hawaii for a fun luau party theme.

To decorate, search online for affordable Elvis posters, rummage around antique shops for old Elvis album covers and records, or simply print out images from the Internet.

And what would an Elvis party be without the party games?

Since music is such an important part of any Elvis party, get the house rockin' with a round of Name That Tune or a hip-shaking Elvis karaoke contest. Prizes can also be given out for the best impersonation or dance moves during the performance.

For the non-musical guests, try "Pin the Tail on the Hound Dog" or an Elvis trivia contest. Finally, buy a life-size Elvis cutout so that all guests can gather round for a picture with the King!

Food ideas "Fit for a King" can include fried chicken, 50's burgers and shakes, chicken "love me" tenders, or the famous fried peanut butter & banana sandwiches that Elvis loved so well. And don't forget the guitar shaped cake for a sweet ending to your Elvis celebration.

Say "thank you, thank you very much" by sending guests home happy with a goody bag filled with Reeses Pieces, toy sunglasses, a CD of Elvis hits, and photos from the party for an Elvis party keepsake they'll long remember.

More about Elvis party themes around the Web:

Elvis Party Ideas

Elvis Party Ideas for Preteens

Elvis Fan Site

Memorial Day Party Ideas

First observed in 1868 to commemorate fallen solidiers following the Civil War, Memorial Day evolved into a holiday that remembers all in the military who gave their lives in service to the USA.

Although today Memorial Day is mostly about a three-day weekend and the unofficial start of summer cookouts, here are some great ways to incorporate the true meaning of the day into your Memorial Day festivities:

Decorations

Use plenty of red, white and blue, of course! Decorate with the patriotic color theme with colored carnations and balloons. Mix and match tableware by using red napkins, blue plates and white plastic knives and forks. For a lovely effect at dusk,  backyard lights in patriotic colors will set the mood even as the sun goes down.

Food

Nothing says Memorial Day like an outdoor barbecue of grilled chicken and steaks, shish kebab, hot dogs or burgers alongside fresh macaroni or potato salad. Wash it all down with fresh homemade lemonade or ice tea. And  don't forget the other cool treats of the season with generous slices of watermelon or a heaping bowl of fruit salad.

For dessert, serve cupcakes frosted white with red strawberries and blueberries, or use the same ingredients to make an American flag sheet cake.

Fun Memorial Day Activities

Backyard party games like horseshoes or volley ball are the order of the day, or go fly a kite! (and et Dad take the reigns and show the kids how it's done.) 

And what would Memorial Day be without the music? Load up the iPod or CD player with these Top 10 favorite patriotic tunes:

1. Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
   
2. American Pie - Don McLean
   
3. Stars and Stripes Forever - John Phillips Sousa
   
4. The Star-Spangled Banner - Francis Scott Key
   
5. Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
   
6. Only In America - Brooks And Dunn
   
7. This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
   
8. God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood
   
9. Some Gave All - Billy Ray Cyrus
   
10. Arlington - Trace Adkins
    

More Memorial Day party ideas around the Web:

Barbecue and Outdoor Entertaining

How to Host a Memorial Day Barbecue

Summer party ideas for kids