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. The dyeing immediately precedes the annual downtown St. Patrick's Day parade. The day — which falls on Monday this year — celebrates Irish culture. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and is credited with having brought Christianity there in the fifth century.
St. Patrick's Day weekend celebrations are officially here, with an iconic Chicago tradition kicking off festivities Saturday morning as the Chicago River was dyed green. Beginning shortly after 10 a.m., several boats transformed the waters of the Chicago River into a bright shamrock green, with the process taking around an hour to complete. The dyeing was done by Chicago's plumbers union using a secret, environmentally friendly dye.
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. The dyeing immediately precedes the annual downtown St. Patrick's Day parade. The day - which falls on Monday this year - celebrates Irish culture. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and is credited with having brought Christianity there in the fifth century.
