Every March since 1962, a local plumbers union has taken to the Chicago River with an armada of boats and dropped gallons and gallons of dye into the water to the celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
The result is an absolutely stunning (and allegedly environmentally-friendly) transformation of the river into a sea of bright green. Oddly enough, the dye used to change the water from blue to green is actually an orange formula. A mix of boats are used with some responsible for pouring the dye while others trail behind the mix it into the water.
The vibrant green color begins to appear in minutes and can last anywhere from hours to days. Chicago dyed the river on March 11, 2023, a week ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, but you’d never know it wasn’t the actual holiday from the turnout.
It’s a spectacle that has to be seen in person to fully appreciate but these pictures help do it justice.
Today is the DAY! ☘️ One of Chicago's most iconic traditions takes place this morning at 10am: the dyeing the Chicago River green for St. Patrick's Day.
P.S. Don't worry, the green coloring is completely safe and naturally dissolves in a few days. pic.twitter.com/R8pisuWj12
— Choose Chicago (@ChooseChicago) March 11, 2023
Caution – Fresh Paint! Today's Dyeing of the Chicago River from above. #chicago #ireland #stpatricksday pic.twitter.com/YF9Vr14jFP
— Barry Butler Photography (@barrybutler9) March 12, 2023
Let's Mix It Up – Yesterday at the start of the Dyeing of the Chicago River Green. #chicago #StPatricksDay #news @TourismIreland pic.twitter.com/EUus4pZxUu
— Barry Butler Photography (@barrybutler9) March 12, 2023
The countdown to St Patrick's Day! Images from Chicago and Ireland each day until March 17th. An aerial view of the north end of downtown during the St. Paddy's celebration. #StPatrickDay #chicago @TourismIreland pic.twitter.com/y2hPb3Prgk
— Barry Butler Photography (@barrybutler9) March 15, 2023
The countdown to St Patrick's Day! Images from Chicago and Ireland each day until March 17th. Chicago Sláinte! #StPatrickDay pic.twitter.com/0IBxANh5ul
— Barry Butler Photography (@barrybutler9) March 16, 2023
The countdown to St Patrick's Day. And it's finally here! Hope you'e enjoyed the images from Chicago and Ireland for the past 17 days. No town celebrates the holiday better – Chicago in its Green Glory. #chicago #StPatricksDay #ireland #greenbutton pic.twitter.com/wrpBnTIMt8
— Barry Butler Photography (@barrybutler9) March 17, 2023
