With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, the talk on campus revolves around parade action, beer binging, bar hopping, and more beer binging. Does the thought of massive drunken crowds make you claustrophobic? Would you rather be in on the St. Patrick’s Day celebration while remaining sober in the country’s drunkest city?
I have gathered five ways to spend St. Patrick’s Day without taking on the role of designated drunk-sitter.
1. Throw a parade watch party in your dorm or apartment. Head to CVS or your local drugstore and stock up on green decorations, and your friends’ favorite snacks. Instead of serving beer, serve mocktails. Allrecipes.com offers a wide variety of easy- to-make mocktail recipes. I recommend the alcohol-free mint julep and alcohol-free mojito to stick closely with a green theme.
2. Skip being the only sober one at the bar and head to your favorite coffee shop. Green is being offered in all forms this week. Find a comfy seat, curl up with your favorite Irish novel, and enjoy a green-frosted doughnut or other delicious St. Patty’s Day sweets.
3. Explore the Irish heritage with a walking tour. If you are looking for insight on the importance of this day to the city, this tour is the place to find it. In honor or St. Patrick’s Day, the Boston Irish Tourism Association offers a walking tour that explores the deep Irish History in the city. The tour runs through Sunday, March 18th. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or in the common the day of the tour. All tours leave at 12:30 P.M.
4. Play the St. Patty’s Dashunt. Cash Hunt Boston offers a special St. Patrick’s Day themed scavenger hunt. A group of 8 is split into two teams and competes in six challenges taken place from the North End to the Boston Common. This is a bit of splurge with tickets at $39.99 per person, but it’s a great way to share laughs and bond with friends.
5. Enjoy a dish of corned beef and cabbage. One of the best ways to celebrate Irish culture is to indulge in the traditional food dishes. Durgin Park in Quincy Marketplace will be serving corned beef and cabbage all day on St. Patrick’s Day, and is offering other St. Patrick’s Day breakfast and dinner specials.