Chicago's St. Patrick's Day traditions live with green-dyed river and parade

Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune on Mar 14, 2026

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CHICAGO — Downtown Chicago looked like a sea of green, or more precisely a river of green, on Saturday as crowds gathered for the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities.

Just before 10 a.m., boats from Shoreline Sightseeing carrying members of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 sprayed bright green dye into the Chicago River, continuing a decades-old tradition that draws thousands of spectators each year.

People of all ages lined the bridges and the sidewalks along the sides of the river, taking photos and playing Irish music as boats made repeated passes along the water.

Leslie Moore, 43, was one of many tourists who wanted to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, traveling from El Paso, Texas. Although she had visited the city before, she said seeing the river get dyed was the sole purpose of this trip.

Dressed head to toe in bright green to match the water, she clapped and jumped up and down with excitement. She managed to squeeze toward the front of the crowd with help from strangers, graciously thanking each one of them.

“I love St. Patrick’s Day, it’s my favorite holiday,” Moore said enthusiastically. “I’m Irish. I mean, not legally, but I have the spirit.”

Moore told those around her that seeing the river was a dream come true.

As the boats moved between Columbus Drive and Orleans Street, the river grew brighter with each pass. Mayor Brandon Johnson waved from one of the boats before later joining fellow elected officials ahead of the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

After the river dyeing concluded, thousands flocked toward Grant Park for the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

This year’s parade theme was “Faith, Peace and Unity,” honoring Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born in the United States and Chicago. The parade began at 12:15 p.m. at Balbo Drive and proceeded north on Columbus Drive to Monroe Street.

Leading the procession were the parade’s guests of honor, the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band of Chicago, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Several elected officials followed wearing green sashes, including Mayor Johnson, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who is running for the Democratic nomination to replace Durbin in the upcoming primary election.

Spectators along the route wore kilts, orange wigs, Irish flags and full leprechaun ensembles.

Juliana Perez, 19, wore an inflatable leprechaun costume with a tall green hat, an orange beard and matching eyebrows. A Chicago resident, Perez said this was her third time attending the parade.

“This is my first time wearing this,” Perez said, laughing. “I feel like every year I go more and more crazy.”

She danced an Irish jig with friends as floats of green, white and orange passed by.

“I just love how this brings everybody together, even people from out of state,” Perez said.

Bagpipers, local Irish organizations, Union members, Irish dance groups and high school marching bands from across the country strolled along, passing out beads, candy and other small things.

Roxie Simmons, 16, of Pelham, Alabama, led her high school marching band holding the banner. The parade marked her first time in Chicago and her first time experiencing so much excitement around St. Patrick’s Day.

“It’s been a really fun trip,” Simmons said. “It’s been super cool meeting a bunch of new people.”

While it may have been Simmons’ first time participating in the parade, Marianne and Mark McKibbin of the Chicago Stockyard Kilty Band are seasoned performers.

Marianne said she first attended the parade as a child with her grandfather, who was in the Knights of Columbus. Continuing a family tradition that she now shares each year with her husband, Marianne plays drums while Mark plays bagpipes. Both have been part of the parade for nearly 30 years.

“It’s awesome to see how many people come out and cheer you on,” Marianne said. “The people we play with over the years have become our family.”