Chicago River Won't Turn Green For Second Year In A Row

Chicago IL

12 March, 2021

2:51 PM

Description

CHICAGO — For the second consecutive year, shamrock green dye won't be pumped into the Chicago River for St. Patrick's Day thanks to the pandemic. The Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Local 130 has been organizing the "best parade in the United States since 1956," saying on St. Patrick's Day in Chicago, everyone is Irish. The 2021 edition of the downtown parade celebrating the life of Ireland's patron saint was originally set for this Saturday, March 13. A year ago, the St. Patrick's Day parade and other cultural events were canceled preemptively to curb the spread of coronavirus days before Illinois went into a complete shutdown. Chicago has dyed the river green and held a St. Patrick's Day parade downtown since 1956. The South Side Irish Parade started in 1979, was cancelled in 2009 after 54 people were arrested and returned three years later. The city's St. Patrick's Day parade, set for March 14, has also been cancelled. The Plumbers Local 130 did employ its river-dyeing nozzles for a virtual polar plunge at Marist High School a few weeks ago for Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children's Charities. In lieu of the cancelled festivities, the Plumbers Local 130 will be holding a live-streamed St. Patrick's Day Parade from a secret location from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 13. Links will be provided in advance of the event. "Stay safe and stay home, but still enjoy all the traditions of what is known as the best Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade. Streaming LIVE the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade on Parade Celebration will go on following all CDC Guidelines per the City of Chicago and the Dept. Of Health," read a statement on the Local 130 website. Meanwhile, Local 130 has promised that the downtown St. Patrick's Day parade will march again in 2022, along the dyeing of the Chicago River.