All of Ocean City will be putting on their green for the 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival.  The much-anticipated event is scheduled to take place Saturday, March 16th.  The event is sponsored by the Delmarva Irish-American Club and has become a yearly tradition for area locals. It’s exciting to see a huge crowd decked out in green, sparkly glitter, wearing shamrocks all over the bodies, walking around in kilts, or dressed like leprechauns – in fact, ShoreBread has a few accessory ideas to share with you!

The Ocean City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the second largest St. Patty’s Day parade in the state of Maryland; second only to Baltimore. The parade features over 50 floats, marching bands, musicians, dancers, businesses, and many other forms of general merriment.
The parade starts on 59th Street and travels south on Coastal Highway to end at the 45th Street Village. The festival at 45th Street actually begins before the parade, opening at 10 am. Beer and food vendors await, as do plenty of folks celebrating the “wearing of the green.” The Village celebration lasts until 4 pm.
St. Patrick’s Day also marks “opening weekend” for many local businesses that choose to close their doors during OC’s “off season”. Local bars and restaurants will be filled with families clad in green, bagpipers in kilts, and partiers sipping on green beers. Some hot spots include Seacrets, Smitty McGee’s, Shenanigan’s, Johnny’s Pizza, 45th Street Taphouse, and Fager’s Island.
Want to look your best? We’ve put together a few DIY projects in the spirit of Saint Patrick! Make and wear this fun ginger leprechaun beard, sew together a few clover hairclips for extra green pizazz, or make a few cards to deliver to your favorite Irish folk. Check out these fun craft tutorials below. We hope to see some during this year’s parade!

St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Beard Tutorial:

St Patricks Day Leprechaun Beard DIY

1. Gather your supplies: 4 pieces of orange construction paper, thin ribbon, a pencil, a hole punch, scissors, glue.
St Patricks Day Leprechaun Beard DIY

2. Draw the outline of a beard on one piece of orange paper. Be sure to leave a space for the mouth. Cut out along your outline.
St Patricks Day Leprechaun Beard DIY

3. Cut the other pieces of orange paper into strips. Varying widths between ½” and 1” work best.
St Patricks Day Leprechaun Beard DIY

4. Roll the paper tightly around a pencil. This will make the paper curl.
St Patricks Day Leprechaun Beard DIY

5. Curl all strips of orange paper.
St Patricks Day Leprechaun Beard DIY

6. Glue the paper curls onto the beard cut-out. Start at the bottom and work your way up. Don’t forget to cover the mustache area.
St Patricks Day Leprechaun Beard DIY

7. Punch holes in the upper left and right corners of your beard using the hole puncher.
St Patricks Day Leprechaun Beard DIY

8. Cut two pieces of ribbon (string or yarn will work, too) about 16” long. Thread each piece through the holes punched into your beard.
St Patricks Day Leprechaun Beard DIY

9. Hooray! A finished leprechaun beard! Place the paper beard on your face, pull the ribbons over your ears, and tie in the back. May the luck of the Irish be with you!

Lucky Clover Hair Pin:

Clover St Patrick's Day Hair Pin DIY

1. Make sure you have all necessary supplies: green felt, scissors, a needle, heavy green thread, glue, a bobby pin or hair barrette.
Clover St Patrick's Day Hair Pin DIY

2. Cut three little round circles out of the felt (each about the size of a dime).
Clover St Patrick's Day Hair Pin DIY

3. Thread needle and sew a running stitch through the bottom edge of each clover leaf. Tie thread ends in a half-knot and pull tight. This will bring all of the leaves together. Tie again and double knot to secure. Arrange the leaves so they lay flat.
Clover St Patrick's Day Hair Pin DIY

4. Cut a thin strip of green felt to use as a stem. Glue the stem to the backside of the clover.
Clover St Patrick's Day Hair Pin DIY

5. Cut a small rectangle of felt. Place between the prongs of the bobby pins. Dot glue on either side of the rectangle and pin. Place the clover on top of the felt rectangle with glue. Hold until secure. Let dry.
Clover St Patrick's Day Hair Pin DIY

6. Cheers! You now have a super cute clover hair pin to wear on St. Patrick’s Day!

St. Patty’s Day Thumbprint Clovers:

Fingerprint Shamrock St Patricks Day DIY

1. Supplies needed: A green stamp pad, a green marker, some paper.
Fingerprint Shamrock St Patricks Day DIY

2. Dab your thumb on the green stamp pad. Place your thumb on a piece of paper and apply pressure. Repeat four times in a cover-like shape.
Fingerprint Shamrock St Patricks Day DIY

3. Draw a green stem with marker.
Fingerprint Shamrock St Patricks Day DIY

4. Add some text or draw a few doodles.
Fingerprint Shamrock St Patricks Day DIY

5. Cut out your Shamrock to make fun accessories! Turn your thumbprint shamrock into a necklace charm by punching a hole in it with a hole puncher; thread a ribbon through it. Use a safety pin to create a St. Patrick’s Day pin. Use your design to create a St. Patty’s Day card.

Photos by Ami Reist.