# Chicago River green: Watch river dyeing, a St. Patrick's Day tradition

## NATION

Saint Patrick's Day

**Contributing:**
Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY

**Time:**
2:04 p.m. ET March 14, 2025

**Byline:**
  
USA TODAY

## Chicago River goes green: Date, time and how to watch river dyeing for St. Patrick's Day

### Introduction

 brings green decorations, outfits and even beer, so it's only fitting that the nation's county with the most Irish people take it a step further and dye the river green. While St. Patrick's Day isn't until Monday, Chicago's iconic tradition dyeing the river green is happening Saturday. Here is how to watch the event.

### When is Chicago dyeing the river?

The Chicago River will be dyed green on Saturday, March 15.

It will begin at 10 a.m., and take about 45 minutes to complete, with the color lasting a few hours to a couple of days, according to .

### When are the Chicago St. Patrick's Day parades?

After the river dyeing, the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, in its 70th year, will start downtown around noon.

The parade will head north from Columbus Drive and Balbo. This year's theme is trades, technology and education.

On Sunday, the South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade will set off at noon from 103rd and Western Avenue.

 will broadcast the Saturday parade downtown.

### Chicago River goes green: How to watch Chicago St. Patrick's Day river dyeing

USA TODAY will live stream the Chicago river dyeing on Saturday:

### Why do we celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

St. Patrick's Day originated as a religious day to celebrate the Saint who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century.

Centuries later, March 17, the day St. Patrick is believed to have died, is a day celebrating all things Irish. Approximately 9.1% of U.S. residents claimed Irish history in 2023, according to the .

It is not a federal holiday in the U.S., where many bar-goers don green attire and glasses. But in Ireland, it is a national holiday and events kick off tourist season.

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