The Chicago River was dyed green for an annual St. Patrick’s Day tradition that returned in full swing for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago.
On Saturday, crowds gathered along the Loop for the yearly river-dyeing event, which was cancelled in 2020 and held without many in attendance during a surge in coronavirus cases last year.
Since 1962, Chicago has dyed the river green in honor of the Emerald Isle. The Windy City boasts around 204,000 people, or 7.5 percent of the city’s population, who claim Irish ancestry today.
Members of the Plumbers Union Local 130 dyed the Chicago River green with a boat that poured the coloring into the water on Saturday in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations coming up on Thursday.
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People gather on the banks of the Chicago River dyed green in Chicago to celebrate the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day
Pictured: The Chicago River appears green after the Plumbers Union Local 130 dyed it, Saturday, March 12, 2022, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday
View of the Chicago River dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, Illinois. Pictured: Chicago Dyed Green For St. Patrick’s Day 2022
The Chicago River was dyed green for an annual St. Patrick’s Day tradition that returned in full-swing for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago
Most revelers went maskless as they stood in lines wrapped around the block outside River North bars, with many bundled up to celebrate despite the mid-March cold front.
‘It’s cool seeing everybody back out, everybody having a good time – a lot of smiles,’ said Ozzy Arias, a Chicago resident taking in his first downtown St. Pat’s celebration.
‘It’s a beautiful thing when everybody gets back out together with a group of friends.’
A parade downtown also made its COVID comeback just down the street from where the river had been dyed a bright green in commemoration of the widely celebrated Irish holiday, which will take place on Thursday, March 17.
A barge sprays green dye into the Chicago River for it’s traditional St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Chicago
Members of the Plumbers Union Local 130, pictured, dyed the Chicago River green with a boat that poured the coloring into the water as crowed began to gather
Members of the Plumbers Union Local 130 dye the Chicago River green, Saturday, March 12, 2022, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday
A group of people, sans face masks, take a selfie with the dyed green Chicago River in the background at the LaSalle Street Bridge, Saturday
Meanwhile, Chicago Transit Authority trains were packed heading into the Loop, with passengers still expressing concern over the virus as mask mandates are beginning to be lifted nationwide.
‘Don’t worry, I’m vaccinated,’ a woman told a friend before handing them a bottle at a Blue Line station.
Last month, the city did away with its vaccine and mask mandates for bar patrons, as the number of coronavirus cases has continued to drop to an eight-month low.
Three-quarters of Chicagoans have currently completed at least their initial vaccine series, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
A Chicago Shoreline Sightseeing tour boat passes by Merchandise Mart as the Chicago River is dyed green after it was dyed Saturday, March 12, 2022, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday
Members of the Plumbers Union Local 130 dye the Chicago River green, Saturday, March 12, 2022, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday
The mandate-free event comes just weeks after frustrated parents and students rallied against school mask mandates after nearly two years of abiding by pandemic restrictions that they allege haven’t protected them from the virus.
A group of Chicago-area students walked out of school on last month after being told they were required to wear masks to attend class, despite an Illinois judge having issued a temporary restraining order against the governor’s statewide school mask mandate.
‘I am tired of seeing my kids wearing masks. We abide by the rules, we wear the masks all day at school and work and we still got COVID – including my infant,’ Ari Moore, an Oregon mother of three school-aged children, told DailyMail.com.
