Today marks the 63rd anniversary of Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day tradition of transforming the Chicago River green. Crowds gather along the riverbanks to watch the magic happen — a ritual of history and celebration. Plumbers have dyed the Chicago River green since 1962, though the tradition was St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, Illinois includes many festive celebrations for an estimated 200,000 residents of Irish heritage and the city at large, but this WTTW Chicago video shares that “there’s no more iconic Chicago St. Patrick’s Day tradition than dyeing the Chicago River green.” Chicago’s green river tradition began in 1962 Spectators line the Chicago River in Chicago on March 15, 2025, as it is dyed green by Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 UA to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago On Sunday, the South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade will set off at noon from 103rd and Western Avenue.. ABC7 Chicago will broadcast the Saturday parade downtown.. Chicago River goes green Editor's Note: A live view of the Chicago River on Monday, March 17 is streaming in the player above.. The Chicago River getting dyed green is one of the city's most iconic St. Patrick's Day The city's downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The parade steps off at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at Columbus and Balbo drives in Grant Park. The parade Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parade Saturday, March 15, 2025 The 70th annual Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the largest in the country and the centerpiece of the city’s unforgettable St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Catch the festive procession on Columbus Drive between Balbo Drive and Monroe Drive. Kick-off spring festivities with Green River Revival. Watch as the Whitewater Center’s resident leprechaun transforms the river green for St Patrick’s Day. Start the day with the Color Me Green 5K Trail Run before rafting down the river and listening to live music. Charlotte takes a fun twist on turning a river green; they also attempt to dye people green. The U.S. National Whitewater Center will host its 10 th annual Green River Revival, a full day of fun St. Patrick’s Day themed festivities, on March 16 th. Before dyeing their river and canal green, USNWC offers a 5k run where participants try to 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 tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green for St. Patrick’s Day started in 1962, thanks to a creative idea from then-Mayor Richard J. Daley. Initially, Daley had wanted to turn Lake Toxie on the Chicago River. Cineverse. The hero of the upcoming horror comedy The Toxic Avenger celebrated St. Patrick’s Day weekend by taking a trip down the glowing green Chicago River. If you want to view the Green River Dyeing from higher ground, there are a ton of rooftop restaurants and hotels where you can watch the Green River Dyeing in Chicago. LondonHouse Chicago. LondonHouse Chicago will once again host one of the city’s most exclusive St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on Saturday, March 15, 2025. The river stays green for a few hours, adding to the atmosphere of the entire day’s celebrations. A City-Wide Celebration. The dyeing of the Chicago River is just one part of the city’s massive St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Once the river turns green, it’s time for the parade, which winds its way through downtown Chicago. 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 CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago River is once again glowing kelly green as the city opens its annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Thousands lined the river and packed bridges Saturday and erupted in cheers as members of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union Local 130 sprayed dye into the water from boats, carrying on a tradition they began some 63 years ago. Eventbrite - Chicago Sport and Social Club presents St. Patrick's Day Green River Cruise - Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Island Party Hut, Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago, IL, USA, Chicago, IL. 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 If there's an award for best St. Patrick's Day tradition, Chicago has it firmly in its pocket – and it's greener than Mountain Dew. And every bit as green as Green River soda. About the event: While cruising, you'll enjoy spectacular views of Chicago's iconic landmarks and skyline from the Chicago River. Aboard the cruise, you'll enjoy everything below: - Amazing views (perfect for Instagram) of the Chicago skyline, Chicago's iconic landmarks, the harbor and more - One of Chicago's hottest DJs making sure you enjoy every minute - 2 floors of fun with 1 of them being
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