Green Beer, Green Rivers, Shamrocks and Parties: St. Patrick's Day Celebrations

What luck! Saint Patrick's Day falls on Saturday, March 17 this year. No work and no school means this may be one of the biggest celebration years ever. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy the spirit of gaiety and fun that marks this holiday as a celebration.

If you live in one of these metropolitan cities, here are a few events to check out.

Chicago. One of the first places that comes to mind when you think of St. Patrick's Day is Chicago. The big event is the parade. Get to Columbus drive early and find a good spot for the best St. Patrick's Day Parade in the United States. According to Chicagostpatsday.com, The parade starts at 12:00, but there will be plenty of vendors, food and fun to enjoy before the parade. Kids and adults alike will enjoy festivities.

If you can position yourself near the Columbus Drive Bridge you will have a great view of the green river. The river will be dyed at 10:45am. The dying of the river started in 1962. There are a number of versions of exactly how the green river was born. All of the tales basically point to plumbers tracing a leak to the Chicago river. The tracing agent turned the river green. Some say the tracing dye was orange. Others say the bright green dye was spotted on the plumbers overalls. Others claim it was the result of a vegetable dump. However the tradition was born, today's dye works to turn the river Irish green. The idea has been borrowed by San Antonio, but Chicago is the original.

The city recommends using public transportation to reach the St. Patrick's Day events. Transportation, parade route, and parking information can be found at chicagostpatsday.com. For more details on St. Patrick's Day events see AC's article: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Chicago.