St. Patrick's Day 2026: Chicago's River Turns Green This Morning, Dublin Parade on Tuesday

The green is already in the water. St. Patrick's Day 2026 doesn't officially arrive until Tuesday, March 17 — but the celebrating is already well underway across three continents. Chicago dyed its river this morning, parades are marching from San Diego to Dallas, and Dublin is counting down to a national holiday that will draw hundreds of thousands into the streets.

Chicago: River Dyeing Is Happening Right Now

The dyeing of the Chicago River took place this morning, Saturday March 14, getting underway at about 10 a.m. The process takes about 45 minutes to an hour. The river runs bright green west of the Columbus bridge to east of Orleans before Wolf Point — one of the most photographed spectacles in American holiday tradition.

Temperatures during the river dye are in the 30s. The brilliant green color lasts only a few hours. The lower Riverwalk is closed through 6 a.m. Sunday. Upper Wacker Drive between State and Columbus is the best vantage point for the dye — bridges remain open to pedestrians.

The downtown parade follows. Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at 12:15 p.m. at Columbus and Balbo drives in Grant Park, proceeding north on Columbus Drive to Monroe Street, with the viewing stand located in front of Buckingham Fountain. This year's parade theme is Faith, Peace and Unity. The Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band, leading the procession since 1956, steps off first.

Security is heightened this year, with retired Chicago Police First Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio noting that large public gatherings are attractive targets and that CPD is working in conjunction with federal partners for this weekend's events.

More Chicago Parades This Weekend

The South Side Irish Parade steps off Sunday at noon from 103rd Street and Western Avenue in the Beverly neighborhood, marching south to 115th Street. It is the largest community-based St. Patrick's Day parade outside of Dublin.

The Northwest Side Irish Parade also steps off at noon Sunday, beginning at North Neola Avenue and West Raven Street, proceeding along North Northwest Highway before ending at Harlem Avenue.

San Diego, Dallas, and Beyond: Saturday Parades Nationwide

San Diego's 44th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival kicked off this morning at 10:30 a.m. at Fifth and Laurel in Balboa Park — presented by the Irish Congress of Southern California under the theme "Here, There, Irish Culture Everywhere." The family festival runs until 6 p.m. with two entertainment stages, food, beer, wine, and a kids zone.

Dallas's Greenville Avenue parade draws more than 120,000 people to a 2-mile stretch and features over 100 floats. Philadelphia's parade runs tomorrow, Sunday March 15, with Dan Hilferty serving as grand marshal.

New York City: Tuesday, March 17, 11 a.m. on Fifth Avenue

The world's oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day Parade — 265 years running — does not move its date for anyone. The New York City parade steps off Tuesday, March 17, at 11 a.m. along Fifth Avenue, with a live Mass from St. Patrick's Cathedral broadcast on the Catholic Faith Network at 8:30 a.m. that morning.

Grand marshal Robert J. McCann leads the march from 44th Street north to 79th Street. More than 150,000 participants walk the route annually past more than 2 million spectators lining the avenue.

Dublin: The Main Event Is Tuesday

Ireland's national St. Patrick's Festival runs March 14 through 17, with the official Dublin parade kicking off at noon on Tuesday from Granby Row in the north of the city, traveling through O'Connell Street and across the Liffey before ending at Cuffe Street. This year's grand marshal is podcast presenter and Howth native Vogue Williams. The theme is "Roots."

Saturday events include Ember Éire — an outdoor fire performance on South King Street — with a special Abbey Theatre tour on Sunday and a 26km Harbour2Harbour charity walk on Tuesday itself. The parade broadcasts live on RTÉ One.

St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday, March 17. The NYC parade steps off at 11 a.m. ET. The Dublin parade kicks off at noon local time — 7 a.m. ET.