Cheers and Irish tunes rang out across downtown Saturday as thousands of residents and tourists enjoyed the festive St. Patrick’s Day weekend in their traditional Chicago way: watching the Chicago River turn from a murky gray to bright green before frolicking to the city’s parade route to see floats, bagpipers and Illinois politicians.
The Chicago River is dyed green by the The Chicago Plumbers Union, Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 130, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 16, 2024 in downtown Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Spectators record as the Chicago River is dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 16, 2024. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)The Chicago River is dyed green by the The Chicago Plumbers Union, Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 130, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, on March 16, 2024 in downtown Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Haomin Zhuang records a selfie as the Chicago River is dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 16, 2024. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Spectators attempt to catch give away items during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2024, on in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Former St. Patricks Day Parade Queens wave from a float during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16, 2024, in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)People on the Hamburg Athletic Association Float look to the crowd during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 16, 2024, on Columbus Drive in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Craig Cranz walks during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2024, in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)People from the Soul Harbor Ranch animal therapy program walk with animals during the annual downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2024. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Phoenix Aroyo poses for a portrait during Chicago’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2024. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Members of the Foy School of Traditional Irish Dance dance during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Chicago on March 16, 2024. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and first lady M.K. Pritzker wave to the crowd during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16, 2024, in downtown Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Megan Fastabend, of the Shannon Rovers, waits for the start of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2024, in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)A member of the Crestview High School Marching Band, of Crestview, Fla. plays during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2024, in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Spectators watch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2024, in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)A young spectator waves during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16, 2024, in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Spectators watch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16, 2024, on Columbus Drive in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Spectators watch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16, 2024, in downtown Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Spectators attempt to catch give away items during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16, 2024, in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)David Westerby poses for a portrait during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16, 2024, in downtown Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Sen. Dick Durbin and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson waves to the crowd during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2024, in downtown Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Members of the Shannon Rovers tune the bagpipes of Emmett Brown, center, before the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2024, on Columbus Drive in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Members of the Shannon Rovers play the bagpipes during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2024, on in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)Joey Bognanno, center, 3, waits for the start of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)
