Bring the luck of the Irish to your living room
St Patrick’s Day on 17th March celebrates the patron saint of Ireland, and it isn’t just about parades and pubs. Families across the UK mark the day with green food, shamrock decorations and games. March weather is unpredictable, so a themed night in is often the best plan, and it costs far less than a day out.
Here’s how to turn an ordinary evening into a St Patrick’s Day celebration the whole family will enjoy.
Step 1: Go green
- A green tablecloth or paper table runner.
- Shamrock cut-outs: three-leaf clovers are easy for little hands to draw and cut.
- A rainbow drawn on the window, ending in a “pot of gold” (a bowl of sweets).
- Green clothes for everyone, with a forfeit for anyone who forgets.
Step 2: Pick a family film
- An adventure film set in Ireland’s countryside.
- A family comedy with plenty of laughs.
- Anything with a rainbow, a leprechaun or a lucky charm in the story.
Step 3: Green sweets and pairings
Apple Mega Sours
The perfect St Patrick’s Day sweet: bright green, sharp and tangy. Each one has an extremely sour coating that lasts around 20 seconds, then a fizzy sherbet centre.
Fruits Mega Sours
A mixed bag of fruity flavours and colours, perfect for filling your rainbow bowl.
Lemon Mega Sours
Golden yellow, ideal for filling the pot of gold.
All three are made by Barnett Confectioners in Nottingham, a family sweet maker since 1896, which adds a bit of British sweet-making heritage to the celebration.
Step 4: The Pot of Gold game
Fill a bowl with mixed Mega Sours and cover it with a cloth. Each player (aged 5 and over) reaches in without looking, picks one sweet and has to guess the flavour by taste alone before they open their eyes. A right answer scores a point; whoever has the most points at the end of the film wins the “Lucky Leprechaun” title.
For a second round, try the straight-face challenge: everyone eats a Mega Sour at the same time and rates each other’s reactions from 1 to 10. It makes a great short video to share with #MegaSourChallenge.
Why a night in works
- It costs less than a day out.
- It works on rainy evenings.
- Everyone, from grandparents to teenagers, can join in.
About Barnetts Mega Sour
Mega Sours are made by Barnett Confectioners in Nottingham, a family sweet maker since 1896, in traditional open copper pans. Each hard sweet has an extremely sour coating that lasts around 20 seconds, then a fizzy sherbet centre. Every flavour is vegan, suitable for vegetarians and gluten-free. Single bags start at £3.99, 3-packs at £10.99, and UK delivery is free on orders over £25.
Stock up for 17th March: shop all 10 Mega Sour flavours.
Safety information
- Not suitable for children under 5 years of age.
- Eating lots in a short time may cause temporary mouth or stomach irritation, so take it one sweet at a time.
- Cherry, Watermelon, Bubblegum and Fruits contain colours that may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.
- Zombie Bombz Hot Chilli contains chilli and isn't recommended for anyone sensitive to spicy food.
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