Every year on March 17, we celebrate Irish culture and observe the death of St. Patrick, who was the patron saint of Ireland. We imbibe Saint Patrick’s Day drinks of all varieties. We line the walls of our living rooms with green garlands and set up our leprechaun figurines on the coffee table. Our homes are showing Irish pride, but now what? There are many ways to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.

Make Dinner

Host a special Saint Patrick’s Day dinner, featuring a plethora of Irish food for your friends and family to enjoy. There are many traditional options you can explore. Corned beef and cabbage is a classic, and comes with many variations. Bangers and mash, or sausage and mashed potatoes, is also a crowd-pleasing classic. In addition to entrees, you could prepare Irish soda bread or purple cabbage and pecan salad as side dishes. If you have kids, you may want to explore some colorful ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. For example, festive green gelatin or pistachio cupcakes for dessert.

If there are no kids involved, why not enjoy some festive Irish spirits? Start off your Saint Patrick’s Day with some Irish coffee by adding a shot of Irish cream into your cup of joe, or indulge in a specialty recipe for Irish coffees. Later in the day, you may feel like cracking open a Guinness or pouring a shot of Jameson. You can even bake with Guinness to give your meal a touch of Irish flavor.

Go to a Parade

Without a doubt, there is a St. Paddy’s Day parade near you. Take advantage of it. Grab a lawn chair or a blanket — or nothing if you prefer to stand — and wait along the road where floats and performers will make their way toward you. Music will waft through the air and trinkets will be thrown from floats for you to catch. Enjoy the breezy weather and bask in the energy from the crowd around you.

Go to a Party

Many Irish pubs have special offers on Saint Patrick’s Day. Most of the time, Irish food is involved and discounted. If for no other reason, go out for dinner so you don’t have to prepare it yourself! Most Irish pubs promise loud music, discounted Irish beer and whiskey, deals on meals, and dancing space in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

Immerse Yourself in Irish Culture

Cooking and finding local entertainment can be fun, but immersing yourself in the Irish Culture will truly get you in the mood to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day. Start with turning up some Irish tunes. Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys are amazing Irish bands to start with. Then, learn some Irish phrases (and practice them with an accent) to impress people you meet. If pronunciation isn’t your forte, but you can dance, try step dancing. Irish step dancing classes can be difficult to find, but YouTube has a way of connecting people and interests. Try teaching yourself and see what happens!

Go to Ireland

Lastly, and possibly the most extreme depending on where you live, you could always jump on a plane and visit Ireland in the flesh. It’s beautiful, and the best way to immerse yourself in Irish culture is to be there for the authentic celebrations. Plane tickets vary in price, so it’s not a reasonable option for everyone, but it may be something to think about for next year.