With a last name like Flattery (maiden name), St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday that is celebrated yearly. My father always buys green carnations for my mother, myself, and now my daughter. “The Irish Rovers” plays so loudly that I’m confident the next town over can hear my parent’s house. Shamrocks fill the windows of our homes. While we are busy planning corned beef dinners for family gatherings, I have come up with some fun ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Central Mass with your families this year.
Below are ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Central Mass with your families:
St Patrick’s Day Parade
The 42nd Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade in Worcester will kick off at noon. It starts at Park Ave and travels 2 miles across the city. This year you can expect to see floats, marching bands, Irish step dancers, and maybe even an appearance from Smiley Ball or Woofster! For more information on the parade including a list of participants and parade route maps make sure to visit the website.
Guinness Celtic 5k
If you’re looking to get a bit of a workout in pre-parade, the Celtic 5k is the best way to start parade day in Worcester! There is a 1/4 mile Leprechaun Run for children 12 and under to participate with their parents or you can run the full 5k by yourself! All participants are given a T-shirt! Online registration closes on March 9. Entrance cost is $36 for adults and $19 for children participating in the leprechaun run. To register or find more information head over to their website.
Worcester Public Library Leprechaun Traps
If you have children 6 or older hoping they can catch a leprechaun, head on over to one of several Worcester Public Library locations to create a leprechaun trap! This amazing STEM activity will provide all the materials needed to create their own trap to leave out St Patrick’s Eve! This is a tradition that families have started to catch those small mischievous leprechauns in hopes of getting 3 wishes (and maybe their pot of gold)! To find out which locations are hosting this event head on over to the Worcester Public Library events page.
Maybe you can’t get to the library, don’t worry because we have you covered! You can still celebrate by creating your trap at home! When making a trap, use any materials you have around the house from toilet paper rolls to shoe boxes! Leprechaun hats that he may have left behind in a hurry, footprint stickers to show his escape route, and his empty pot to say better luck next time (the coins can also show his exit route)! The more green and gold, the better to help lure this magical fellow into the trap! If you’re feeling less than creative, you can also buy a kit. It has all the supplies needed to make a trap of your own.
Rushford & Sons Brewhouse Family Party
If you’re looking to grab a pint and have some fun with your family, head down to Rushford & Sons Brewhouse in Upton for a St Patrick’s Day party! Make sure to have your green on and try out the Imperial Red. If you’re like me and not a beer drinker, Rushford & Sons also has seasonal flavored hard seltzers! A food truck will be on-site to help feed any hungry kiddos!
How are you planning to celebrate St Patrick’s Day? Comment or share with us @centralmassmom!
