St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration and holiday that is widely observed across the world. Traditionally, it is a time when people celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, with parades, parties, and other festivities. However, it often means that alcohol will be involved. 

While alcohol consumption has become a standard part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in many places, not everyone wants to drink. Whether you’re sober or choose not to drink, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday in a fun and festive way. 

In this post, I will provide tips for an alcohol-free St. Patrick’s Day so that you can celebrate safely and enjoyably.

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Here are some tips for an alcohol-free St. Patrick’s Day:

Plan ahead.

If you’re going out with friends, plan and decide on alcohol-free activities, such as going to a museum, hiking, or movie night. Otherwise, if you plan on going out to dinner, you don’t need alcohol to have fun. Enjoy dinner with sparkling water instead. If they’re truly your friends, they shouldn’t pressure you to drink.

Attend a parade.

Many cities have St. Patrick’s Day parades that are family-friendly and alcohol-free. Check your local listings to see if there’s one in your area. In South Boston, we typically have a weekend-long celebration followed by a parade the weekend before or the weekend after. I went to the parade when I was in college, and it was a crazy environment… I don’t know if I could hold my own now!

Make festive non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.

You can still celebrate with festive drinks by making non-alcoholic versions of traditional Irish drinks, such as an Irish coffee without whiskey or a green shamrock shake. This is where these delicious booze-free, craft cocktails come in handy. Check out this recipe if you want to make some delicious chocolate bark for your get-together.

Host a sober party.

If you’re hosting a party, offer a variety of non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. You can also have games and activities that don’t involve alcohol. Focus on the food instead and enjoy each other’s company. There’s been such a stigma created that automatically makes you think a party equals a night of drinking; however, you can choose to allow your guests to BYOB “Bring their own beverages” or state that there will be no alcohol served. It’s your party, your choice.

Attend a virtual event.

Plenty of events are held online, and if you have friends that live all over the country or all over the world and still want to celebrate, use Zoom, Facebook Messenger, or Skype to chat! Look for online concerts, events, or cooking classes to celebrate the holiday in a safe and alcohol-free way, too!

If you’re keen on celebrating with friends with an actual happy hour, I got you covered. Check out this post on how to enjoy a virtual happy hour.

Focus on the culture.

Use St. Patrick’s Day to learn more about Irish culture and history. You can watch Irish films, read books by Irish authors, or cook traditional Irish dishes. There are so many resources online where you can find information; start with Google and Pinterest for ideas.

Remember, you can still have a fun and festive St. Patrick’s Day without alcohol. Enjoy the holiday in a way that works for you and your lifestyle.