There aren’t many times as great to be outside than during St. Patrick’s Day season. Neighborhood block parties, amateur parades, and major league beer gardens help us kick off spring with festive pizzazz.
But before you break out the green beer, it’s important to understand the work behind the scenes of those thousands of people celebrating every March 17th. Crowd flow, portable toilets, security fencing — these are just a few of the many logistical pieces necessary to host a successful outdoor event.
What Is Saint Patrick’s Day? How Do We Celebrate?
Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17th; it’s a cultural holiday commemorating the patron saint of Ireland. People with or without Irish ancestry celebrate with family, gather in parishes, and cook traditional meals. In modern times, the focus of the celebration has shifted to celebrating excess, everything Irish and the luck of the Irish. Many Saint Patrick’s Day activities are outdoors in March (especially in places like Texas, where it’s not too chilly to be outside yet).
Whether your guests actually have Irish heritage or not, the main goal of any Saint Patrick’s themed party is to provide high-energy entertainment and encourage people to let their hair down. Planners should expect maximum occupancy the entire time their venue is open — which means preparing their festival infrastructure for high-volume traffic.
The Essential Party Checklist
With large outdoor parties, you’re likely to partner with dozens of vendors and city regulations. Planners can keep the lucky streak going by using a checklist to be sure they don’t forget anything. Permit applications, inspections, construction, event décor setup, and proper sanitation and waste disposal.
1. Permits / Insurance
Every public party starts with the appropriate paperwork. The events coordinator locates the proper permits through your local municipality. Depending on size and location, you may need noise variances, street closure permits, or even health department certifications for food trucks. And you can’t forget general liability insurance! Your rental agreement should include a standard liability policy to cover any accidents or damages to public property.
Submit your documents with enough time that the city can deny your party, if that’s what they’re going to do, before you’ve already paid contractors.
2. Entertainment / Activities
No St. Patty’s Day celebration would be complete without traditional Celtic dancers, someone squeezing an accordion, and a band to blast current party anthems. Patrons are particularly likely to stay for several hours during this event, which means you’ll need to fill the time between sets.
Hosting a “best dressed” contest, a photo booth with green and gold props, and temporary tattoos are a few great ways to keep the vibe upbeat. For adults, consider lawn games or a “pot o’ gold” scavenger hunt.
3. Food / Drink
Nearly everybody loves a frothy green beer, but you can celebrate like a pro by providing a variety of food and drink options. Your guests will appreciate an authentic Irish menu with corn beef sliders, cabbage wraps, and soda bread, along with other festival favorites.
Always make water easily accessible, especially if the Texas sun decides to make an appearance.
4. Merchandise Vendors
Kiosks or trucks are a great way to incorporate a “marketplace” into your festival. Booths selling green fedoras, themed t-shirts, and handmade necklaces can complement the aesthetics of your party. Set your vendors up in an area of high foot traffic, but not too close to the stage. A “vendor alley” away from the main event will help with crowd control and create a “chill zone” for guests away from stage volume.
5. Safety / Crowd Control
Safety is always the number one priority when you’re expecting large crowds. Designated exits, first aid stations, and visible security are musts. The most useful asset for crowd control is temporary fencing. Whether it’s outlining your event perimeter, controlling entrance lines, or restricting guests from certain areas, temporary event fencing is your friend. Heavy-duty fencing that can hold up to increased traffic will look more professional than standard flexible enclosure options.
6. Waste Removal
The largest party comes Ash Morning clean up. No one wants to attend a festival littered with trash, which is why proper receptacle placement is key. In addition to onsite trash cans, schedule a roll-off dumpster for after the event. Dumpster rentals are ideal for containing larger debris after festivities — broken pallets, catering trays, oversized decorations, and more.
A clean festival is a safe festival, and quick waste removal is the hallmark of a successful project.
7. Restrooms / Portable Restrooms
When people drink alcohol and eat food at your event, you can expect them to use the restroom. Regular porta potty rentals are not meant to withstand heavy use all day. To avoid irritated guests and long portable toilet lines, it’s important to estimate your needs and rent accordingly. A good rule of thumb is one toilet per 100 guests, but you can always upgrade if your budget allows!
Requesting additional restroom trailers for VIP sections or ticketed entrances is always a nice touch. Portable restroom trailers are basically bathrooms with doors. Guests experience privacy, flushing toilets, running water, and even air conditioning in some models. If your project requires high-end restrooms (or you plan to charge for admission), we can help you create that experience outdoors. Make sure you have a balance of portable toilets and handicap accessible units to accommodate all guests. Professional portable toilet rentals include servicing and porta potty restocking throughout the event.
Throw The Perfect Saint Patrick’s Celebration
Here in Texas, we know a thing or two about throwing the perfect Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. Texas Johns is your go-to source for coordinators who demand quality equipment and reliable customer service. From pint-sized parties to statewide productions, we’ve got you covered.
Whether you need a basic porta potty for an outdoor festival or luxurious restroom trailers for a ticketed concert, we can help. Our portable toilet inventory is unmatched in Texas, and our specialized trailers will wow your VIP crowd. In addition to rental toilets, we offer other site infrastructure rentals such as fencing and temporary event fencing to keep your guests safe.
Don’t forget about your waste management and cleanup either. Our roll off dumpsters are easy to position for quick loading once the party is over. With Texas Johns, you don’t just get portable restroom rentals and portable sanitation services — you get decades of Texas-based experience on your side. Call Texas Johns to ensure the luck of the Irish goes hand in hand with the best rental equipment around!
