×
It all started with a grand idea from Mayor Richard J. Daley, who wanted to turn Lake Michigan green for St. Patrick's Day. When he realized how ambitious of a task that would be, he settled for Watch the waters turn green, enjoy themed cocktails and Irish cuisine, hear live bagpipe music, and wave at the thousands of spectators lining the river’s banks. St. Patrick’s Day Clover Cruise from Chicago’s First Lady; St. Patrick’s Day Cruise from Wendella Cruises; Architecture River Cruise from Shoreline Sightseeing Members of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 UA dye the Chicago River green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the Loop, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Share Get The Chicago River still turns green today! Every year, the river is dyed a few hours before the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will take place on Saturday, March 15 this year, just two The tradition returns this year thanks to the Chicago group that has been dyeing the river green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day for decades By Grace Erwin • Published March 3, 2025 The Chicago River dyed green for St. Patrick's Day (view from the 41st floor of Swissotel Chicago). Courtesy Alani Vargas The Chicago River will be transformed into a green hue on Saturday, March There are many ways St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated. Green beer. Green bagels. Corned beef and cabbage. And, in Chicago, they turn the river a bright green. The Chicago River is about to get its annual St. Patrick’s Day dye job on Saturday. This decades-old tradition routinely attracts tens of thousands of revelers to the riverfront, but in recent years it’s also attracted criticism from environmentalists. Sure, the spectacle of a neon ribbon of One of the city’s favorite traditions is the dyeing of the Chicago River in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.The dyeing always occurs the Saturday before the holiday (except when March 17 falls on a Chicago’s famous green river for St. Patrick’s Day started with a simple idea in the 1960s, formulated by the head of the Plumbers’ Union Local 130. “Stephen M. Bailey had the idea when The Chicago River still turns green today! Every year, the river is dyed a few hours before the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade, which will take place on Saturday, March 16 this year, just one Shortly after the river dyeing, the Chicago St. Patrick's Day parade will step off, beginning at 12:15 p.m. at the intersection of Balbo Drive and Columbus Drive, with the parade proceeding north The Chicago River still turns green today! Every year, the river is dyed a few hours before the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade, which will take place on Saturday, March 16 this year, just one West Loop and Fulton Market. Bandit; Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Bandit on Two, the second floor of Bandit, on Saturday, March 15, 2025. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., ticket holders can enjoy a private event featuring a standard open bar with mimosas and well cocktails, passed bar bites, and festive green décor and swag. In Chicago, dyeing the river green is a cherished tradition that signals the start of St. Patrick's Day festivities. Starting in 1962 and continuing every year after, members of the Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 gather to dump gallons of green dye into the Chicago River, transforming it into a vibrant shade of emerald. The tradition, adhered to for decades, will coincide with the city's annual St. Patrick's Day parade. The story goes, in 1961, a man by the name of Stephen Bailey -- the business manager of the Why do they turn the Chicago River green? Scott Olson/Getty Images. For more than 60 years, the Windy City has been turning the Chicago River green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.It started in Chicago Goes Green: St. Patrick's Day in Chicago St. Patrick's Day in Chicago is memorable experience for Chicagoans as well as visitors. You will be surprised that St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated throughout the city every year. Main attractions are green river and parade. You will have great time experiencing vibrant parade and viewer’s favorite event of dyeing of the Chicago River. Truth Paddle along the Chicago River with Urban Kayaks and enjoy food and drink on the day the river turns green. Tickets are $75-$100 for a single kayak and $150-$175 for a tandem kayak. Learn more and buy tickets here . According to the story, the dye used to detect leaks in the sewer system along the Chicago River turned the water green, and the idea was born to dye the river green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():gifv()/st-patricks-day-GREEN0322-3d584ac749324850bf9b26fc33391c31.jpg "chicago river turns green st patricks day food") |  |
 |  |
 |  |