Chicago River Dyed Green In St. Patrick's Day Surprise

CHICAGO, IL — Despite previous plans to ax the beloved holiday tradition due to the coronavirus pandemic, the City of Chicago pulled off a St. Patrick's Day surprise Saturday morning when it moved forward with dyeing the Chicago River green.

The event was kept under wraps, likely to prevent crowds from gathering, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Last year, Mayor Lori Lightfoot canceled the city’s 2020 parades and the river dyeing just days before they were scheduled to happen. Lightfoot again called off parades this year due to the pandemic, initially saying the river would not be dyed.

A Lightfoot spokesman said in a statement to The Associated Press that the city opted “to honor the long-standing tradition" and authorized its partners, the Chicago Plumbers Union Local 130, to dye the river.

Chicago has dyed the river green and held a St. Patrick's Day parade downtown since 1962.

The Plumbers Local 130 deployed its river-dyeing nozzles for a virtual polar plunge at Marist High School a few weeks ago, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children's Charities.

The group also plans to hold a live-streamed St. Patrick's Day Parade at a secret location from 2-3 p..m. Saturday. Watch the parade here.