You'll Be Able To Order McDonald's Shamrock Shake Earlier This Year

Updated on 2/2/24 to include confirmation from McDonald's. The previous version of the article stated that McDonald's had not yet commented.

We all know that you can't get a McDonald's Shamrock Shake year-round, which is one of the things that makes this beloved seasonal confection so special. With its unique green hue and its Ireland-inspired name, this milkshake normally arrives every year just in time for St. Patrick's Day. For McDonald's fans, the ice creamy treat is a symbol of springtime on the horizon.

In 2024, spring is coming a bit early. Per McDonald's, the Shamrock Shake will be available much earlier than in previous years. Soon, you'll be able to get a little taste of spring in early February 2024.

Every year, St. Patrick's Day falls on March 17. Rather than seeing the item arrive just in time for the holiday, though, fans will be able to enjoy the Shamrock Shake throughout most of the preceding month. On January 31, the foodie Instagram account — Snackolator — posted an image that read, "Shamrock Season," and claimed the famous Shamrock Shake would be returning to McDonald's locations as early as February 5. As of February 2, McDonald's has confirmed this.

In 2023, the shake was available starting on February 20. So, the 5th is quite a bit earlier than years past. Talk about the luck of the Irish!

If the Shamrock Shake's early return isn't enough of a pot o' gold at the end of this wintry rainbow we're in, then perhaps another lucky dessert will sweeten the deal. McDonald's Oreo Shamrock McFlurry will also be returning alongside the Shamrock Shake. So, no matter how you like your minty ice cream served, McDonald's will have you covered.

The Shamrock Shake was first sold across the U.S. back in 1970, and it's been revered by McDonald's and St. Patrick's Day lovers alike ever since. Yet, while most of us consider the milkshake's minty flavor to be its defining feature, it didn't always taste like that. It was briefly green-dyed vanilla followed by lemon-lime before getting back to its minty roots in 1983.

In 2020, McDonald's celebrated the milkshake's 50th anniversary by introducing its new companion: the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry. While its base is the same vanilla mint soft serve as the Shamrock Shake, the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry has Oreo bits throughout. So, whichever way you like to sip on something Shamrock-inspired, McDonald's is happy to provide. This year, it's giving us some extra time to enjoy our favorite springtime treats.