With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, we thought you might be in the need for some fun activities and games for your youth ministry to get in the St. Patty's Day spirit. Friend of ours, Wes Wilson, has 4 great ideas for you to be able to use in your ministry right away. They are all super easy to put together, will absolutely create some laughs and memories, and will cost you practically nothing to do them. We call that a win-win-win. Take a read through Wes' 4 game ideas.
1. Lucky Charm
Items needed:
- 3-4 large spoons
- 2 giant bowls
- 2 boxes of Lucky Charms
- 2 gallon containers of milk
Have two teams of 3 to 4 students race to see who can finish an entire box of lucky charms and a gallon of milk out of a giant bowl first.
2. Catch the Leprechaun
Find the two shortest members of your group and have them find a hiding spot in your building. Send groups of students with a rope or a net to find the “leprechauns.” The first group to return with one wins.
Note: Make sure not to embarrass your short students. Maybe even have someone who thinks they’re short volunteer for the role of the leprechauns.
3. Kiss Me, I’m Irish
Have two students who claim to be Irish come to the front and compete in Irish Trivia. The winner gets a bag of Hershey Kisses. (Answers in bold)
Q: What is the name of the lead singer of Irish band U2?
A. Bono
Q: What are the colors of the flag of Ireland?
A: Orange, white, and green
Q: What university’s mascot is The Fighting Irish?
A. Notre Dame
Q: According to legend, Saint Patrick drove what creatures out of Ireland?
a. Snakes
b. Spiders
c. Banshees
d. French people
Q: The shamrock has been used over the centuries as a specific remedy for what?
a. Dehydration
b. Snake bites and scorpion stings
c. Urinary and kidney stones
d. Girl cooties
Q: According to legend, leprechauns all engage in what trade?
a. Tailoring
b. Shoe making
c. Blacksmithing
d. Mattress testing
Q: Some traditional Irish St. Patrick’s Day foods include what?
a. Corned beef and cabbage, soda bread
b. Sweet potato bread, soup
c. Mashed potatoes, carrots, rye bread
d. Mint pie, pretzels, curly fries and a large milk shake
Q: The most common hair color in Ireland is what?
A. Brown
Q: Which holiday’s origin traces back to Ireland?
A. Halloween
What is the most important crop grown in Ireland, both historically and now?
A. Potatoes
Tie Breaker:
Q. What is the cereal Lucky Charms’ tagline?
A. “They're magically delicious!”
4. Get Green
Have students race to see how many green objects they can collect from the audience.
Wes Wilson is the director of student ministries at Willow Creek Community Church's DuPage Campus. He's also the creator of “Games: Video Edition.” Check it out here. Follow him at @wesmwilson.
