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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 The Chicago 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on March 15 2025. The parade is scheduled to begin at 12:15 pm, and follow an established route with stunning perspectives from downtown. The biggest, greenest party of the year in Chicago, St. Patrick's Day weekend has arrived! There are so many family-friendly St. Patrick's Day celebrations all over town. The biggest and greenest, of course, is the annual dyeing of the Chicago River on Saturday. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Chicago 2025 always takes place the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day. The parade will begin this year on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at noon. Like previous years, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will move along Columbus Drive from Balbo to Monroe Street. The South Side Irish Parade is another major St. Patrick’s Day tradition in Chicago. Held on Sunday, March 16, this parade draws between 100,000 and 150,000 spectators. 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 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. Alejandra Gonzalez and her daughter, Ivana Gonzalez, 6, park themselves next to a tree before the 70th Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade in Chicago, March 15, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune) How the Chicago River dyeing on St. Patrick's Day was sparked by a longtime friendship The river dyeing tradition began in the 1960s. By NBC Chicago Staff • Published March 12, 2025 • Updated 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. 100%. Typically they start dying at 9am sharp. Its neat to see them dump orange dust into the river and it turns bright green. It is usually rowdiest from 10am-noon, then people start heading south for the parade. I’ve rounded up the best ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, including my own top pick. (Special thanks to my brother who lives in Chicago and knows how to drink.) If you want to keep digging into St. Patty’s Day fare, stick with Choose Chicago. Top 9 activities in Chicago for St. Patty’s Day #1: Watch the river run green Hi Chicago, I hope I'm in the right place for this! We (a group of 4) are heading to you next weekend for the St Patrick's Day festivities. I've always wanted to see the river green, so today we bought tickets to visit from Baltimore. We have river view rooms booked on the Riverwalk. We know it's going to be pretty packed, and are prepared. 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 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 Stephen Bailey, the then-business manager of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 130, noticed the green spots and had a lightbulb moment. Bailey, who just happened to be a childhood friend of Mayor Daley and chairman of Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade planning committee, proposed treating a segment of the river with the same dye. It's less St Patrick's day, and more bro fight fest with green vomit beer. Where Bourbon st is, "wow! look at all this crazy shit going on!", Wrigleyville is, "oh my god, I hate every person here". The advice you're getting to stay away from there is good. But good news! Chicago is big city with lots of options, and cool places to go. We’ve built our reputation on knowing exactly what makes Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day scene tick. Through years of experience, we’ve cultivated partnerships with the city’s impressive pubs and most sought-after venues – each one carefully selected to deliver that perfect blend of seasonal charm and Chicago energy. The river dying began at 10 a.m. west of Columbus Drive and east of Orleans Street. The downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade takes off at 12:15 p.m. at the corner of Balbo and Columbus drives. 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.
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