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The history of St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago goes back more than 175 years. Now a longstanding tradition, Chicago’s Irish parade was first held in 1843. The dyeing of the Chicago River was added in 1962, quickly becoming one of Chicago’s most famous events. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Chicago was held on March 17, 1843. It was a modest affair, representing the Irish of Chicago, who then numbered about 775. The marchers trooped down Clark Street with “Smiling John” Davlin as grand marshal and Capt. Patrick Kelly leading an Irish military unit known as the Montgomery Guards. According to a well-researched 2024 Block Club Chicago feature by Linze Rice, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Chicago was held in 1843 and included citizens, a band and a military group of Since 1962, the Chicago River has been dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day. Scott Olson/Getty Images Tune in to WTTW Chicago tonight at 8:00 p.m. for “Labor of Love: A St. Patrick’s Day Special,” featuring fascinating insight on the history of Chicago’s Irish communities from Peter T. Alter, CHM’s chief historian and director of the Studs Terkel Center for Oral History. The WTTW original documentary reveals how the Chicago Journeymen The Green Chicago River. As St. Patrick’s Day grew in popularity around America, each city came up with its own way of celebrating. Starting in 1962, the city of Chicago dyed its eponymous river "The dying of the river green is such a public event that it helped concretize the celebration of St. Patrick's day in the city," Peter Alter, chief historian at the Chicago History Museum, told 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 For more than 60 years, the Windy City has been turning the Chicago River green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It started in 1961, when Stephen Bailey, the business manager of the Chicago Jason Lesniewicz, Choose Chicago’s Senior Director of Cultural Tourism joins Wendy Snyder, in for John Landecker, to talk all things St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago. Listen in while Jason shares parade details, where and when you can watch the Chicago River being dyed, and more ways you can join in on the festivities this weekend. New Orleans has Mardi Gras. We have St. Paddy's Day! After all, one of the greatest scenes in film history was shot in the middle of the famous parade. Zoom in: Here's a list of St. Paddy's 30 years ago today, we witnessed one of the biggest brawls in Chicago Blackhawks history. On March 17, 1991, the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues were in a battle, literally, for the top spot in the Norris Division and the NHL at the historic Chicago Stadium. When is St. Patrick’s Day in 2025? In 2025, St. Patrick’s Day will fall on Monday, March 17th.This day is a public holiday in Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, and Montserrat. 1. A Brief History of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Chicago: The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Chicago has a storied history dating back over a century. It began in 1843, making it one of the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the United States. Stylish men’s St. Patrick’s Day outfits are about more than just green! Consider the broader palette of the Irish flag and the Irish landscape when planning your attire for the celebrations: White and Cream Base for St. Patrick’s Day Style: These neutrals offer a clean, versatile base for your St. Patrick’s Day ensemble. A cream sweater One of the most colorful Chicago traditions is on the horizon: The 2025 Chicago River Dyeing in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The legendary event, which dates back more than 60 years, takes place The idea as first expressed in the fall of 1955 was to reactivate an event that had last been held in 1896—an annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in the Loop. Never mind that the Irish of Chicago were already holding two St. Patrick’s Day parades in the city, one on the West Side and another on the South Side. And that’s almost true.The first Irish parade in Chicago was organized in 1843 by victims of British discrimination, and the St. Patrick’s Day parade became a talisman against an outbreak of [] The 1978 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day queen was Kelly Kathleen Kennedy. The Tribune has covered the competition to select the downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade queen since the 1960s. "The dying of the river green is such a public event that it helped concretize the celebration of St. Patrick's day in the city," Peter Alter, chief historian at the Chicago History Museum, told
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