2017 marks the 23^rd year of displaced St. Patrick’s Day festivities and I’m sure some of you are wondering what the official origin is of this unofficial celebration.  It all started in the Spring of 1995 when local bar owners were presented with a problem by the University of Illinois’s academic calendar with St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) falling on a day during Spring break.  This meant that this traditionally lucrative celebration would have their primary clientele far from campustown.  Unwilling to let the popular celebration slip away--or the opportunity to make quite a profit--local businesses organized an alternative event: the “Shamrock Stagger,” scheduled for Wednesday, March 8th, 1995, two days before U of I’s Spring Break.  From there Unofficial has outgrown its origins and become a true campus celebration armed with special t-shirts, deals on campus, and attracting attendance from other nearby campuses.  Now that we are all up to speed on where this celebration all started, let's get you prepared for the weekend with some helpful suggestions from yours truly.

Entertaining Supplies

This probably isn’t the most exciting tip, but you will thank me later.  For those of you who may be having a large group to entertain or a small group, here are some things to consider getting to prepare for having guests over:

• Coat rack (hangers or a separate room to put coats if it’s cold out).
• A place to put boots or umbrellas (you don’t want this stuff laying around your apartment, it’s just asking for things to get lost or broken).
• Ice, ice bucket, ice tongs, or scoop.
• Cocktail napkins (2 per person)
• Fabreze or Glade (don’t ask why, just trust me when I say to keep it in your bathroom).
• Paper towels (get a Sam’s Club worthy amount.  Don’t have a membership?  Make friends with someone who does).
• Extra toilet paper (again, think Sam’s Club proportions).
• Paper Plates
• Plastic Cups
• Plastic Silverware (if you are serving food).
• Garbage bags (lots and lots of garbage bags).
• Dishwasher/Dish soap & Dish Sponge (be prepared to wash dishes by hand or in your dishwasher if you aren’t getting plastic dishes or utensils).
• Club soda (for anything that may spill, this is a great spot remover)
• Space to chill beverages. It usually takes 20 minutes to chill beverages on ice. A large tub or cooler can be used in a back room if you don’t have room in your kitchen.

Now that you have a pretty good list going I recommend looking into other things such as whether or not you want to have food.  Which, I recommend getting.  Not because I want you to keep throwing money into this celebration, but because if you don’t get food that is designated for guests then they will end up eating the food in your fridge or cabinets that you may have been saving for meals for the next week!  I may or may not be speaking from personal experience here…  Anyways, I suggest investing in your typical party snacks such as chips, dip, nuts, and for this particular occasion maybe making some snacks appropriate for this holiday.  Check out these Pinterest recipes if you need some ideas:

• Lucky Charm Marshmallow Rice Krispies
• St. Patrick’s Day Puppy Chow
• Irish Nachos
• St. Patrick’s Day Trail Mix
• Shamrock Punch

Make Smart Decisions

Some of you may be rolling your eyes as you’re reading this or may have wanted to skip over this section entirely, but you should truly take this advice into consideration.  Unofficial is notorious for getting out of hand.  While some years are better than others it doesn’t mean that you should walk around thinking you’re invincible.  While having fun make sure you are surrounded by people you know and trust or you at least have worked out a “buddy system” with a friend or two so you always have someone with you at all times.  Make sure to keep an eye on your items, regardless of where you are and if you leave your things unattended, either pitch that item and get something new or ask a friend to watch your belongings.  Pay attention while you are walking around as well.  While you may be celebrating there are individuals who are going on with their normal, daily lives and if you aren’t paying attention to whether you are walking in the street or sidewalk then you could get hurt.  On that note, please do not drive.  Not only is campus going to have numerous road blocks set up, but if you are going to head off campus for the celebration consider using Uber.  I use this personally and it is a great way to make sure that you get to your destinations safe and sound.  Another method of transportation is SafeWalks and SafeRides.  These are great services affiliated with the University of Illinois and they are there to help you when you need a lift home or want someone to accompany you on your walk back to your apartment.

Keep Calm & Carry On

While most of campus generally joins in on the celebration don't feel like you have to join in.  Only do what you are comfortable with.  Personally, I didn't get involved with the festivities until my Junior year.  If you want to do the minimum consider these Pinterest ideas to decorate your apartment, outside and in with some splashes of green.  Or if you want to avoid being pinched on St. Patrick's Day here is a link to the Unofficial 2017 clothing page to consider some fun shirts.  If you would rather avoid the events altogether, you might want to consider taking trip off campus or settle yourself in with earplugs, Netflix, and lots of popcorn to help you survive the weekend celebration.

JSM wishes you a safe and fun Unofficial celebration and may the luck of the Irish be with you!