Dyeing of the Chicago River Overview:
For almost forty years, Chicago has been dyeing its river an "Irish" or emerald shade of green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Contrary to popular belief, it is funded privately, not publicly.When They Dye the Chicago River Green:
The Chicago River is "greened" on the same day as Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade. The downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade is held every year on the Saturday before the actual calendar date of St. Patrick's Day.Where They Dye the Chicago River Green:
They spill dye from small boats into the Chicago River between Michigan Avenue on the west and Columbus Drive on the east. (This is roughly just southeast of the Tribune Tower.) The best viewing for the dyeing event is from the upper level bridges on Michigan Avenue or Columbus.However, as the dye gets drawn into the flow of the river, its emerald green color can be seen well west of Michigan Avenue for at least a day after the event.
How They Dye the Chicago River Green - Photos
See step-by-step photos of how they dye the Chicago River green.
Why They Dye the Chicago River:
The history of this tradition has quite a bit of blarney in it, but according to organizers, here's roughly how it unfolded.In 1961 Stephen Bailey was Business Manager of Chicago's Journeymen Plumbers Local Union #110. The union had sponsored Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade since 1957.
As the story goes, this was around the time that water pollution controls were first being put into place. One day Bailey ran into a plumber who was using a shamrock green dye to track waste leakage into the river when Bailey had what Oprah might call "an a-ha moment." The river has been dyed ever since.
What's in the Dye:
What they're actually spilling into the Chicago River is anybody's guess. Supposedly, only a handful of people know, and organizers like to say keeping their secret is similar to the way the formula for Coca-Cola is closely guarded. They also suggest that leprechauns have something to do with it.Isn't this really not environmentally friendly?:
More than a few green eyebrows have been raised over this potential abuse of a natural resource. However, on St. Patrick's Day 2005, the Chicago Tribune asked Laurene von Klaun, then executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, why her organization didn't oppose the greening. She said,"It's not the worst thing that happens to the river. When you look closely at the problem, it's not something that needs to be our priority right now. . . . Studies show [that] for creatures who live in the river now, [the dye] is probably not harmful. However, one day when we have brown trout and native darters, we'll have to re-evaluate and look for new, great ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day."In 2008, the Friends of the Chicago River executive director, Margaret Frisbie, said her predecessor's viewpoint was still true today, "We really don't focus on (the dyeing of the Chicago River) at all."