St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, lands on a Thursday this year. While it might be a weeknight, there are still lots of things you can do to celebrate, whether you’re going to party or not.
St. Patrick’s Day might just seem like a day to drink and party, but it actually originated as a religious celebration in the 17th century that commemorates the Irish Saint Patrick and Christianity arriving to Ireland. For Christians, the restrictions they currently have for Lent on food and alcohol are removed for the day (hence the day of drinking and partying). It is celebrated differently by many religions and countries, but here are the things the HC at UVic’s team thinks you could try in Victoria!
If you’re wanting to go out, an obvious place to start would be the Irish Times Pub on Government street downtown. We’re not going to lie – it’ll probably be packed, but the live music and great drinks might just make it worth it. Last year it was even listed as one of the top ten Irish pubs outside of Ireland. You could also check out any of the other pubs and bars downtown that are bound to have special events and performers.
If you’re looking for a more active day, definitely try out the Bear Mountain Run Series. You can choose between two distances, participate in giveaways, and dress up for the costume contest! Added bonus: you get to raise money for charity! This year the run falls on March 13th, and if you miss it we definitely recommend giving it a try next year.
An obvious food recommendation would be Lucky Charms, but for an added twist that might make you feel a bit more grown up you could definitely try these Popcorn balls! They’re super easy to make, and would be a great activity to do with your friends or SO.
We definitely recommend you get a Shamrock Shake from McDonalds to get into the green spirit (like, really, really green). But if you’re looking to try something a little healthier, we love this kale, peach and coconut smoothie. It’s full of delicious foods that will give you all the energy you need to get through the day.
Try these adorable Irish flag Jell-O shots! They’re just as fun to make as they are to eat, and you can even make them non-alcoholic!
Most importantly- don’t forget to wear green! If you’re looking for some outfit inspiration check out our ideas here. What are you doing for St. Patrick’s Day? Let us know below!