Looking for St. Patrick’s Day events in Lake Country and Waukesha County? This Lake Country Family Fun guide lists the best St. Patrick’s Day parades, family-friendly events, Irish celebrations, and festive activities happening in Oconomowoc, Delafield, Hartland, Pewaukee, Waukesha, and nearby communities.
Last updated March 2026.
St. Patrick’s Day is always a fun time to get out and celebrate with family and friends across Lake Country and Waukesha County. From festive parades and Irish dancing to themed family events and local celebrations, there are so many ways to enjoy the luck of the Irish in our communities.
Lake Country Family Fun has rounded up the best St. Patrick’s Day events happening in Oconomowoc, Delafield, Hartland, Pewaukee, Waukesha, and surrounding areas so your family can plan a fun and festive celebration.
My name may be Erin, and I may be Irish, but I’m not 100% certain…but that doesn’t stop me from celebrating a little bit every March 🙂 No matter your name or cultural heritage, check out these fun activities.
The Town of Erin’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is ON for 2026! *Please note it is not the most family-friendly parade.
What You'll Find in this Guide:
- Local St. Patrick's Day Events
- St. Patrick's Day Craft and Virtual Fun Ideas
- St. Patrick's Dining Options
- St. Patrick's Day Themed 5ks
- Other Must-Do March Events
Celebrate the St. Patrick’s season with the whole family on Sunday, March 8 at CelticMKE! At Irish Family Day–Passport to Ireland, families will transport to the Emerald Isle and receive personalized passports before embarking on a journey to various Irish counties.
Each county will have an activity station; from arts and crafts to Irish music instrument demos,
Irish dance performances, and more, this is a full-on Irish immersive experience you don’t want
to miss. More Event Details here.
Local St. Patrick's Day Themed Family Events
Which of these festive March events are on your family’s calendar?
Madison St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Head west out of Lake Country to the Madison’s St Patrick’s Day Parade 2026 celebration! ...
March 15 @ 1:30 pmSt. Patrick’s Day Coin Hunt at The Smiley Barn
It’s the Smiley Barn’s fifth annual free St. Patrick’s Day Gold Coin Hunt. Make St. Patric...
March 17 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pmTown of Erin St. Patrick’s Day Parade
47th Annual Erin St. Patrick’s Day Parade is On for 2026! Erin St. Patrick’s Day Parade ...
March 17 @ 11:00 am
2026 Spring Break Guide!
If you're spring break is in March, check out our staycation guide to fun!
St. Patrick's Day Crafts
Calling all the crafty moms and mediocre moms, too! All the moms and crafty dads even. Parents!! Anyone who loves this holiday or loves a reason to celebrate and get their kiddo to smile. This is for you!
Find a round up of fun St. Patrick’s Day crafts to do with your kids and family this St. Patrick’s Day 2026. You can snag even more ideas in our Lake Country Family Fun Community Facebook Group.
- Make a Leprechaun Trap.
- Watch this dance by the Trinity Irish Dancers and then try do it at home.
- Put green foot prints around your toilet seat.
- Make all their drinks green for the day! We even found dye-free food coloring at Pick-N-Save/Metro Market and on Amazon. #affiliate link. Lake Country Family Fun is an Amazon affiliate and may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate you supporting our small business and team of local moms.
- Local mom, Angela made “clover snacks” by putting three pretzels and a pretzel stick in the shape of a clover and melting a Hershey kiss on the top with a green M&M. Bake at 200 degrees for 4 minutes. See the image in our Lake Country Family Fun Community Facebook Group.
- Make Irish Soda Bread muffins for breakfast. Recipe. Costco is also selling St. Patrick’s Day Soda bread (in stores now).
- Local mom, Jessica Plemons, has preschool St. Patrick’s Day plans and printables.
- Local mom, Sarah Vanderkooy of Creative Ramblings has lots of Cricut craft ideas.
- Grab extra ideas from the Lake Country Family Fun Pinterest page.
St. Patrick's Day Dining
St. Patrick's Themed 5K Run/Walks
- 3/14/26: St. Pat’s Day 5K & Paddy’s 0.08ish K in Oak Creek (in-person and virtual)
- 3/15/26: Luck of the Irish in West Allis
- Anytime: Milwaukee St. Paddy’s 5K (virtual)
10 OTHER MUST DO MARCH EVENTS
- Domes Annual Garden Train Show will be on display through March 22, 2026!
- The Milwaukee County Zoo is open year-round and has a free day on March 7, 2026.
- Winter Farmer’s Markets continue strong.
- Try out a new Friday Fish Fry this Lenten season.
- Find ways to “Staycation” over your Spring Breaks. We have ideas for all of southeastern Wisconsin!
- March is the best time to plan your summer now, before the summer camps fill up!
How will you celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year?
Where can I find St. Patrick’s Day events in Lake Country?
You can find St. Patrick’s Day parades, family events, Irish celebrations, and themed activities throughout Lake Country communities like Oconomowoc, Delafield, Hartland, Pewaukee, and Waukesha. This guide highlights the best local events happening each year.
Are there family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day events in Waukesha County?
Yes! Many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Waukesha County include family-friendly activities like parades, Irish dancing, themed crafts, and kid-friendly events hosted by local communities and businesses. Again, the Town of Erin Parade is geared towards adults.
When do St. Patrick’s Day parades happen in Lake Country?
Most local St. Patrick’s Day parades and celebrations take place the weekend before or on March 17 each year. Specific event dates and details are listed in the guide above.
Are St. Patrick’s Day events free in Waukesha County?
Many community St. Patrick’s Day events and parades are free to attend, though some festivals, dinners, or themed events may require tickets or reservations.
2026 Pi Day Fun
Pi Day is March 14!
This is a great list of thing to do for St. Patrick’s Day. Would love to see the Irish Dancers. That makes it really feel like St. Patrick’s Day.
I attend the Erin parade every year and have a great time! Last year was the first time I became worried for people safety. The police NEED to block off hwy k much earlier than 10am. Buses were driving down the parade route to get to that farm to park. It was really late in the am and the crowd was already large. That is just an accident waiting to happen. Cars and buses should be already parked by 9, and streets blocked off. Several people last year almost got hit. Just mentioning to keep all safe!
You hit all the fun spots to enjoy St. Paddy’s Day in Lake Country! Fun.
What a great extensive list! These all look like fun!
So much fun to be had in Lake Country all year long -just need to know where to look for it 😉
They have 5k races around here for St Patrick’s Day but after my last 5k in a blizzard, I don’t run any time before June anymore LOL
It’s crazy that some years in March a 5k may be a t shirt event, but other years, you are running in the snow. Never know what you are going to get at St. Paddy’s Day time of the year here 🙂
Lots of great ways to celebrate!