Every March, cities across the United States turn blue water to bright green for St. Patrick's Day, a quintessentially Irish holiday.
St. Patrick's Day resonates strongly in the United States, in part because of the country's large Irish-American population. Over 32 million U.S. residents claimed Irish ancestry in the 2024 census, representing over 9.5% of the total population. It is the second-most-commonly reported ancestry, trailing German.
While Chicago often gets the headlines, it is far from the only place where the water changes color this year. From Texas riverways and Florida skylines, six cities across the United States will dye rivers, rapids and fountains vivid green.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago's St. Patrick's Day signature event since 1962 is the annual Chicago River Dyeing.
Each year, the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union Local 130 uses non-toxic dye sprayed from boats to turn blue to green. This year, the river dyeing starts at 10 a.m. on March 14, 2026, and is likely to last only a few hours.
Since the event runs from State Street to Columbus Drive, theMichigan Avenue Bridge and the Riverwalk are the most popular vantage points.
However, hotels and restaurants along the river will host special events on this occasion. The Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago is hosting a River Dyeing Party in its Grand Ballroom, featuring an Irish-inspired brunch buffet, premium open bar, Irish cocktail programming, live entertainment and direct views of the river as it turns green.
San Antonio, Texas
The San Antonio River Walk also leans into an Irish rebrand for St. Patrick's Day weekend. Its 'Dyeing the River Green' event will turn the River Shannon emerald with 25 gallons of eco-friendly dye.
In 2026, the Downtown River dyeing is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a second downtown dyeing on Sunday, March 15, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
A separate Museum Reach river dyeing will take place on Saturday, March 14, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For the best viewing, people usually gather along the Downtown River Walk. Nearby hotels and restaurants also invite spectators in for views and entertainment.
Zocca Cuisine D'Italia at The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, is hosting a St. Patrick's Day River Parade Patio Party on March 14, offering reserved riverside patio seating for front-row parade viewing, a live DJ, and festive food and beverage programming, including 'Green Beer,' cocktails, and St. Patrick's Day-themed bites alongside Zocca's Italian menu.
San Antonio’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend can easily anchor a longer Texas trip, combining festivities with outdoor stops at its state parks.
Charlotte, North Carolina
The focal point of Charlotte's St. Patrick's Day celebration is not a calm river, but engineered whitewater at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
Its annual Green River Revival is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026, when the facility transforms its artificial waterways into a green space at 1. pm.
The center also hosts a race, the Color Me Green 5K Trail Run. The run will start at 9 a.m. for the competitive division and at 10:30 a.m. for the recreational division, with a separate kids' run section.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa also joins the green-water tradition each March. During the annual Mayor's River O'Green event, the city dyes the Hillsborough River a bright emerald to mark St. Patrick's Day.
In 2026, the event is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa.
The best views are from the Tampa Riverwalk and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, where visitors can watch the color spread through the river against the city skyline.
Tampa’s riverfront festival is an easy add-on to visit a Central Florida trip that prioritizes nature, outdoor activities and rugged Gulf Coast beaches over spring break crowds and white sandy beaches.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah hosts one of the largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the United States, drawing crowds of around 400,000 for its parade and surrounding festivities.
Instead of a river, the city turns the historic fountain at Forsyth Park bright green on March 6, at noon. The fountain sits in the center of Forsyth Park, about a mile south of Savannah's Historic District.
The event, called the "Greening of the Fountain," is organized by the Savanna St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee.
Washington, D.C.
While there has been no official announcement that the White House will dye the fountains on the North and South Lawns green this year, Washington has continued the tradition since First Lady Michelle Obama started it in 2009.
The display coincides with the annual St. Patrick's Day visit by Ireland's prime minister, in Irish 'Taoiseach'. President Donald Trump invited Micheál Martin to the White House to continue a tradition dating back to 1952, when the Irish leader presented the U.S. president with a bowl of shamrocks.