Community Corner
Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade Back After 2-Year COVID Hiatus
The annual celebration of all things Irish returns on March 12, when the Chicago River will be dyed green and marchers take to city streets.
CHICAGO – An annual Chicago rite of spring returns this month after a two-year absence as organizers of the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and river dyeing are putting the final touches on preparations for this year’s Irish-themed celebration.
The parade, which last took place in 2019, is set for 12:45 p.m. March 12 and will honor Chicago’s frontline workers, organizers said. This year's theme is "Honoring Chicagoland's Essential Workers."
The day will also include the St. Patrick’s Day tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green, which was not slated to happen last year before Mayor Lori Lightfoot had it done as a surprise the morning of what would have been parade day.
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Spectators will no longer have to wear masks at the event after the city’s mask mandate was lifted on Monday. Chicago has dyed the river green and held a St. Patrick's Day parade since 1962.
This year’s festivities will also include boat tours that will leave out of Navy Pier to give spectators a front-row seat of the river being dyed green. The boat trips leave at 7:45 a.m. and will include Irish music.
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Parade officials also announced that the St. Patrick’s Day festivities will include a corned beef dinner on Thursday, although that event is already sold out.
The South Side Irish Parade, set for March 13, will also return after a two-year hiatus.
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