You don’t have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style. Throwing a fun-filled party that is unique and in the spirit of the Emerald Isle is a feasible task you just need a little bit of know-how, a brave spirit, and some good ideas and maybe a wee touch of leprechaun luck! If you want to throw an impressive shindig that will guarantee a good time for your friends and family, these tips can get you started.

First of all, you have to let people know about the party you’re planning. You can go for handmade shamrock invitations, peppering your paper with shamrock stickers or confetti to get your guests in the mood. If you are sending an e-vite, consider adding Celtic music to your invitations to really get their toes tapping.

When you are getting your little cottage ready for the festivities, it’s essential to decorate in style. Of course, you are going to want to go with green and gold. However, just how much green and where to put it should be strategically planned. Set up a lucky garland to decorate the front of the house. Spray paint some burlap green for a fun, easy-to-make shamrock garland. Or really go green and decorate your home with natural flora from your yard or the local florist. Don’t forget to add a lucky leprechaun or two.

Next, you’ll want to focus on the food. You can’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style without proper Irish fare. You can go with the traditional spread—corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie, plenty of potatoes, and traditional Irish soda bread, or you can make it a fun activity for everybody with an Irish-style potluck with some kind of fun, crazy rule. Ask your guests to bring along whatever they would like, just as long as it’s green! How about spinach pizza, green curry, and pistachio or mint ice cream? Anything goes, as long as it’s green!

If you’re throwing a party for adults, you should also think about the beverages you’ll serve. Irish Coffee and Guinness are traditional standbys, but you can also experiment with melon liquor and crème de menthe to concoct creative drinks of your own. Throwing a fun-filled party takes on another dimension when a barkeep contest is added.

No matter what the age of your guests, activities are a must. If you have the time and energy, consider setting up a scavenger hunt or a “lucky gold coin” search, with items hidden around the house, yard, or even the neighborhood. If you want to keep the action indoors (after all, it’s still winter in some parts!), consider getting everyone on their feet to learn an Irish jig, or dividing the party goers into teams or groups to see who can come up with the best Irish folktale or leprechaun jokes. Whatever you choose, get everyone involved for a festive Gaelic celebration.

How will you be celebrating St. Patty's day?