Your kiddos will love making these paper rainbows and helping pick out a spot on the window to show them off all spring.
19 St. Patrick’s Day Team Building Activities
Team Building Resources March 15, 2023
Here is our list of the best St. Patrick’s Day team building activities.
Ireland, the US, and other countries celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. St. Patrick’s Day team building activities are different ways to celebrate the holiday with coworkers in an in-person office environment. Examples include scavenger hunts, coin tosses, and potlucks. The purpose of these activities is to encourage fun, camaraderie, and team building at work.
This list includes:
- St Patrick’s Day activities for employees
- St Patrick’s Day games for adults
- St Patrick’s Day celebration ideas for work
- St Patrick’s Day ideas for the office
List of St. Patrick’s Day team building activities
From scavenger hunts to beer tastings, here are our top ideas for St. Patrick’s Day team building activities.
1. Lucky letters
One of the best ways to boost team bonding on St. Patrick’s Day is by engaging in a letter-writing exercise. Lucky letters is an activity where colleagues write anonymous letters and leave them on coworkers’ desks. The game’s objective is to write positive letters of encouragement that motivate team members. If you want to take this game to the next level, then you can encourage employees to leave treats along with their letters, such as chocolate or candy.
Lucky letters is a wholesome activity that allows employees to spread good luck and cheer to teammates.
2. Rainbow coin toss
If you are looking for St Patrick’s Day activities for employees, then we recommend playing rainbow coin toss. The only materials you need for this game are construction paper, markers, string, and coins.
Here are the steps to set up the activity:
- Cut and roll different colored construction paper to create tube shapes.
- Lay out all the tubes in a rainbow pattern.
- Tie all of the tubes together using a long piece of string.
- Mark each tube with a different point value.
- Invite players to toss coins into the tubes.
The objective of this game is to get as many points as possible. Be sure to award a rainbow-themed prize to the winner, such as a mug with a rainbow design.
3. Pot of gold scavenger hunt
The objective of a scavenger hunt is to have players search for specific objects in or around your office. The first step in creating your scavenger hunt is to put together a list of objects for players to collect.
Here is a scavenger hunt template for your game:
- Green office supplies
- Hat or cap
- Office plant
- Marshmallows
- Flag of Ireland
- Shamrock
- Green article of clothing
Once your list is ready, assign point values to each item. For example, green office supplies may count for two points, whereas an office plant might count for five . Then, give players 15 to 20 minutes to search the office for the items on your last. When the time runs out, tally up the points, and the player with the most points wins.
A scavenger hunt is the best activity to get your team up and moving.
4. Leprechaun hat toss
If you are looking for St Patrick’s Day games for adults, then we recommend a leprechaun hat toss. The objective of this game is to toss a hat onto a teammate’s head.
Here are the instructions to play the game:
- Split players up into teams of two.
- Have each teammate line up across from the other.
- Ask each player to toss the hat on their teammate’s head.
- Assign two points each time the hat toss is successful.
- Have teammates move farther apart after each round.
- Continue the game for five to ten rounds.
If you want to add holiday flair to your game, then we suggest buying leprechaun hats. The leprechaun hat toss game can help boost collaboration and camaraderie among teammates.
5. Who has the gold coin?
One of the most engaging St Patrick’s Day games for adults is who has the gold coin? The objective of this game is to find out which player is secretly holding a golden coin.
Here is a quick tutorial:
- Ask players to sit in a circle.
- Designate one player as the leprechaun.
- Instruct the leprechaun to stand in the circle with their eyes closed.
- Have the leader hand a golden coin to one player.
- Instruct all players to hold their hands behind their backs.
- Ask the leprechaun to open their eyes and guess which player has the golden coin.
This game is a great way to build collaboration and teamwork skills while having fun in the office.
6. Dance lessons
If you want your team to get in the spirit of St. Patrick’s day, then we recommend hosting a dance class focused on traditional Irish dancing. To host your dance class, find a local instructor who specializes in cultural dance. Then, invite the instructor to your office for a lively lesson. Be sure to choose an open area with a lot of free space, giving participants enough room to move. Alternatively, you can also search for an online dance tutorial on YouTube. Then, project the video tutorial on a large screen.
Hosting an Irish dance lesson is a great way to add fun to your day. We recommend focusing your class on a traditional dance, such as Irish step dancing.
7. Contests and prizes
St. Patrick’s Day is all about luck, so we recommend incorporating contests, giveaways, and prizes into your in-office celebration. For example, you can hold a raffle for a new iPhone, where employees enter the contest, and the team leader randomly chooses a winner. Additionally, you could host a social media competition where team members upload photos to Instagram for a chance to win a gift card.
Contests and giveaways are great incentives that encourage employee engagement and participation.
8. Goodie bags
Goodie bags are a great way to excite employees about your in-office St. Patrick’s Day celebration. We recommend putting together individual goodie bags for each employee. Be sure to stick to a green color scheme.
Here are a few items to include in your goodie bags:
- Beads and necklaces
- Sunglasses
- Stationery
- Stickers
- Chocolate gold coins
- Lucky Charms cereal
- Marshmallows
To add a finishing touch, use a green gift bag to hold all the items. Remember to place one goodie bag on each employee’s desk to ensure the whole team is pleasantly surprised when they enter the office.
9. Potluck lunch
A potluck lunch is one of the most exciting St Patrick’s Day celebration ideas for work. To organize this event, create a sign-up sheet where team members can volunteer to bring specific dishes.
We suggest encouraging participants to bring traditional Irish foods, such as:
- Corned beef and cabbage
- Shepherd’s pie
- Potato soup
- Beef stew
- Colcannon
- Oysters
- Irish soda bread
- Bread pudding
You can also ask participants to bring sweets and treats, like chocolate gold coins, rainbow Skittles, and cupcakes with green frosting. Be sure to label all foods so team members with allergies can stay away.
10. Irish trivia
Trivia games are the best way to bring your team together for a friendly competition. To organize your game, write a list of 10 to 15 questions related to Irish history and culture.
Here are a few questions and answers to get you started:
- What day is St. Patrick’s Day?
- Answer: March 17
- Answer: Britain
- Answer: St. Patrick
- Answer: 1737
- Answer: Over five million
- Answer: Faith, hope, love, and luck
- Answer: 1 in 10,000
- Answer: Blue
- Answer: Shamrock
- Answer: An Irish potato cake
Be sure to assign one to two points for each correct answer. We suggest awarding a gift card to a local pub or Irish restaurant to the winner.
11. Office pranks
One of the best ways to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day is to get tricky like a leprechaun. We recommend having fun by pulling lighthearted pranks around the office. For example, you can confuse your coworkers by sending all your emails for the day in green font. You could also leave sticky notes around the office with riddles and brain teasers for teammates to solve. Remember to keep your mischievous pranks office-appropriate.
12. Rainbow paint and sip
One of the most creative activities for St. Patrick’s Day is a paint-and-sip class. Paint and sip is a group activity where an instructor or leader guides participants in painting a masterpiece from start to finish.
We recommend having team members paint rainbows together as part of the class. Additionally, you can invite participants to bring their favorite bottles of wine to drink as they complete their work of art. Painting is a great way to relieve stress and unleash your inner creativity.
13. Lucky numbers
Lucky numbers is a fun game that focuses on chance and luck. This game’s objective is randomly choosing a lucky number from a hat.
Here are the game rules:
- Call on one team member to share a lucky number with the group.
- Have each player choose a number out of a hat one by one.
- Remind players not to look at their number until all members have gone.
- Instruct players to look at their numbers at the same time.
- The player whose number matches the lucky number wins!
- Repeat steps one to six for five more rounds.
Be sure to award a fun prize to the winners, such as a gift card to a local Irish restaurant. This game is an engaging and lighthearted way for team members to test their luck and have fun together.
14. Mixology class
A mixology class is one of the best activities to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day. To organize this event, find a local bartender to take your team through a mixology class.
We recommend focusing your class on Irish-themed drinks and cocktails, such as:
- Irish old fashioned
- Irish coffee
- Pot O’Gold
- Irish Maid
- Gaelic Grasshopper
- Kale cocktail
- Irish Negroni
We recommend having your team vote on the top three drinks they want to learn during the class. Of course, the best part of a mixology class is tasting your cocktail creations.
15. Lucky leprechaun
Lucky leprechaun is a fun game that will help teammates learn more about their coworkers. To play lucky leprechaun, ask each participant to hold two fists in the air. Next, have the host read a series of statements one by one. Then, instruct players to raise a finger for each statement that applies.
For example, your list of prompts can include:
- Found a $20 bill on the sidewalk
- Won the lottery
- Met a celebrity
- Were undercharged at a restaurant
- Won a new car
- Got an extra item with your fast food order
- Saw a shooting star
- Found money in your pockets
- Were upgraded to first class on a flight at no cost
This game is similar to Never Have I Ever. Lucky leprechaun is a fun way to see which team has the most luck in life.
16. Beer and whiskey tasting
One of the best St Patrick’s Day activities for employees is a beer and whiskey tasting. To host this activity, ask each team member to bring in a different Irish beer or whiskey of their liking. Then, choose a centralized area in your office to set up a tasting station. Your station should display the different drinks along with sample cups.
After you set up your tasting station, invite team members to stop by and taste each drink. Be sure to load up on light snacks, such as crackers, cheese, nuts, and pretzels. We recommend gifting participants with personalized shot glasses as a keepsake.
17. Costume contest
One of the best ways to bring festivity to your office on St. Paddy’s Day is by holding a costume contest. Be sure to encourage team members to come into the office dressed to impress. For example, participants can wear gold accessories, rainbow colors, or a leprechaun costume. Participants can also dress in green from head to toe.
Be sure to award a green trophy to the employee with the most clever or festive outfit.
18. Happy hour
One of the most enjoyable St. Patrick’s Day celebration ideas for work is happy hour. At the end of the workday, head over to a local Irish pub with your team. We recommend finding a bar within walking distance of your office. At the bar, indulge in Irish classics like Guinness, Jameson, and Bailey’s. You can also play fun bar games, like trivia and cornhole.
Remember to drink responsibly at all times. Attending happy hour together is a great way to boost camaraderie and team building as you wrap up the day.
19. Green theme
One of the most simple yet exciting St. Patrick’s Day ideas for the office is to embrace a green theme. You can begin by encouraging employees to wear green on St. Paddy’s Day. We also recommend decorating your office with a variety of green decorations, such as tablecloths, banners, and party favors.
Decorating your office in green is a great way to bring your in-person St. Patrick’s Day celebration together. Plus, the decor will surely excite employees from the moment they walk into work.
Conclusion
St. Patrick’s Day, which is also known as St. Paddy’s Day, provides a great opportunity to bring your team together for some fun in the office. We recommend creating an agenda with different activities to include in your in-office celebration, such as games, team building exercises, and prize giveaways. Celebrating with colleagues through St. Patrick’s Day team building activities can help boost team building and bonding while fostering a positive workplace environment.
Here are answers to common questions about St. Patrick’s Day team building activities.
What are St. Patrick’s Day team building activities?
St. Patrick’s Day team building activities are workplace gatherings where employees celebrate the social holiday. The purpose of these activities is to bring teammates together through team building exercises and games in an in-person environment. Celebrating St. Paddy’s Day together can help boost camaraderie and employee happiness.
What are some good team activities for St. Patrick’s Day?
The best activities for St. Patrick’s Day encourage socialization and interaction among teammates. For example, a pot of gold scavenger hunt, rainbow coin toss, and Irish trivia are great activities for your in-office celebration. These games and events will surely add fun and excitement to the workday.
How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at work?
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is a great way to excite employees while encouraging socialization at work. To celebrate the holiday with coworkers, choose a few activities, games, and exercises suitable for your workplace.
For example, St. Paddy’s Day ideas for work might include:
- Scavenger hunt
- Lucky letters
- Rainbow coin toss
- Costume contest
- Lucky numbers
- Leprechaun hat toss
- Happy hour
- Mixology class
- Beer and whiskey tasting
If done correctly, your in-office St. Paddy’s Day celebration can help boost your team’s spirits at the end of winter.
written with by Tasia Duske
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