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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. 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 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 Chicago River Dyeing 2025: Everything you need to know. Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 Chicago River Dyeing and other events happening this St. Patrick's weekend. 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. Soak in the vibrant green waters from aboard Seadog on St. Patrick's Day. Guests can watch the river dyeing at 10am from the docked boat—the 45-minute cruise will commence afterwards. Cruises Irish step dancers participate in the St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Tens of thousands took advantage of record high temperatures and sunny weather to attend the CHICAGO -- For the last 60 years, enterprising Chicagoans have dyed the city's river a vibrant green in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Thousands of residents turn up to watch the Chicago River light 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 Although Chicago isn't the only city in the country that dyes a river green for St. Patrick's Day (Tampa and San Antonio do it, too), the iconic look of the Chicago River sporting a bright green surface is still the most famous and most-photographed in the entire nation. And it's just about to happen again for St. Patty's Day 2025. 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 For the last 60 years, enterprising Chicagoans have dyed the city’s river a vibrant green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Thousands of residents turn up to watch the Chicago River light up for 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 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 Chicago will once again go all out for St. Patrick's Day this year with one of the city's most iconic traditions: The 2025 Chicago River Dyeing. The Chicago River Dyeing for 2025 is scheduled for CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 16: Workers dye the Chicago River green in celebration of St. Patrick's day on March 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Dyeing the river green has been a St. Patrick's Day It's fun to imagine there's a mystical connection between St. Patrick's Day and the Chicago River turning green every year in mid-March — something involving magical leprechauns and enchanting "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 As thousands head to downtown Chicago Saturday to watch the Chicago River be dyed green for St. Patrick's Day, many may be wondering what's exactly in the mysterious dye that gives the river its City workers use vegetable dye to turn the Chicago River green for St. Patrick’s Day in 1976. The first person entrusted with turning the river green was William J. Barry, a Chicago port
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