A Green Chicago River kicks off St. Patrick's Day celebrations

Winter 2017

A Green Chicago River kicks off St. Patrick’s Day celebrations

March 12, 2017

By Yifang (Evonne) Liu

Green beer, leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, and a green Chicago River, here comes another St. Patrick’s Day celebration!

Chicago River dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (Yifang (Evonne) Liu/ MEDILL).

On Saturday morning, at 9 a.m., members of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union poured an environmentally friendly green vegetable dye into the river to celebrate the traditional Irish St. Patrick’s Day.

An overview of a green Chicago River from 111 W Wacker (Yifang (Evonne) Liu/ MEDILL).

For more than 40 years, it’s been a tradition in the city that the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers turn the Chicago River green for the celebration.

At a booth on North Michigan Avenue, volunteers help people paint their faces with a St. Patrick’s Day touch (Yifang (Evonne) Liu/ MEDILL).

Katrinaan Wade and her friend, both from Australia, have lived in Chicago for a year. They are celebrating their first St. Patrick’s Day (Yifang (Evonne) Liu/ MEDILL).

Thousands of people gathered in downtown Chicago for various festivities, including a parade that started at noon and Irish-themed food and drinks offered by stores and vendors along the Chicago River.

Countless people took photos and captured videos from their spots along the river to post on social media (Yifang (Evonne) Liu/ MEDILL).

Bars and lounges offer green beers to customers (Yifang (Evonne) Liu/ MEDILL).

A group of people dance in front of a bar on Wacker Drive. (Yifang (Evonne) Liu/ MEDILL).

Photo at top: Sarah Liberati and her friends are going to an Irish bar to celebrate(Yifang (Evonne) Liu/ MEDILL).