From lively pub crawls to family-friendly parades, there are St. Patrick’s Day festivities for all ages. No one does St. Patrick’s Day like Chicago. Many tourists and locals wear green all around the city to celebrate the holiday. Even the skyscrapers are illuminated green at night for this holiday. 

St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17, but this year all the celebration occurred the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day on March 12. The festivities started with the eco-friendly dyeing of the Chicago River at 9 am, an annual tradition, and then the St. Patrick’s Day Parade that marches through Grant Park starting at noon. The parade was full of bagpipes, flags, floats, and Irish dancers, and it was relatively close to the green river.

The best view of the river is along the Michigan Avenue Bridge where you will find many people stopping to take pictures. Don’t wait too long to see the green river because the river turns to its usual shade by nightfall. The green river is an essential Chicago experience, and everyone should see it at least once in their lifetime.

Celebrate Irish culture and tradition in the Windy City for next year’s St. Patrick’s Day!