Welcome to the Windy City, where St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just a holiday—it’s an event! Chicagoans take their Irish heritage seriously, and Saint Patrick’s Day is one of the biggest celebrations of the year. It’s more than a green river. It’s the camaraderie, the festivity, and yes, it is also about the green river. No one does St. Patrick’s Day quite like Chicago. From the iconic green river to lively parades and bustling pubs, here’s your survival guide to navigating St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago like a pro:
Preparing for and getting to Chicago on St. Patrick’s Day
Let’s start with getting to the city. My advice is to use public transportation whenever possible. The streets can get crowded, and parking is scarce, especially in popular areas like downtown and the Loop. If you must drive, be prepared for road closures and heavy traffic. Consider parking in a designated lot and walking or taking public transit to your destination. For my suburban readers or travelers, this will likely mean the Metra!
With that said this might not be a typical Metra service experience. The first thing to note is that trains may be crowded, and a seat is not guaranteed. I have also seen/been on Metras that express to Chicago without notice because they are full. I would make sure to get to the train station early and choose an earlier train. The trains will be crowded with people of all ages who are excited and ready to celebrate. It might be loud. I have been in a party car before during this holiday. Glitter and all! With this said Metra does have a no-alcohol policy on these specific days to keep everything running smoothly.
When it comes to preparing for the day there are a few things to keep in mind. First off Chicago weather in March can be unpredictable, so layer up to stay comfortable throughout the day and night. You can always take a layer off but if you are cold and don’t have a jacket it will put a damper on your festivities.
Lastly, don’t forget to embrace the green! Make sure to look the part and deck yourself out in your finest green attire, including hats, scarves, and even face paint.
The Green River
When it comes to your schedule for the day, I’d suggest getting an early start by partaking in Chicago’s most famous St Patrick’s Day tradition, the river dyeing! The Chicago Plumbers Union has been dying the Chicago River green for more than 50 years and although it is usually a bit crowded, watching the plumber’s boats go by is always a blast! It is an interesting process and neat to watch the river turn the color of a shamrock shake.
This year the river dyeing starts at 10 am though you should definitely get there at least an hour before that for a decent spot. If you are looking for a front row experience you may need to get downtown as early as 8 am!
One thing to keep in mind is that the best time to snag that iconic river photo is actually going to be later in the day as it takes some time for the green to become vibrant! Plus, the river area crowds will clear out over time as people disperse out to the bars throughout Chicago.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a fun family-friendly event that kicks off at 12:30. I would recommend getting there earlier than later to make sure you can snag a spot! With that said you have enough time to make it from the River Dyeing. Something else to note is that while entry to the event is free, it is limited to two access points. One at Ida B. Wells (Congress Ave) and one at Jackson Ave.
The parade routes along Columbus Dr. from Balbo St. to Monroe St. In the past, the parade has consisted of floats from local unions and there is usually candy and other fun freebies tossed out for the inner child in all of us.
Bar Hopping*
While hopping from bar to bar may be standard for many events this is not a practice I recommend for St. Patrick’s Day as lines get long fast! Though Chicago is home to numerous Irish pubs and restaurants that come alive on Saint Patrick’s Day, the wait times will consistently be between 30 minutes to as much as an hour and a half.
I’ve waited up to 30 minutes to get into a bar in Lincoln Park. So even going farther up North past River North does not always guarantee shorter wait times. Instead, I’d choose one bar you want to try out and spend more time there. We also had luck going to more non-traditional bars like JoJos Shake Bar. Our wait time was under 5 minutes and we were able to enjoy a boozy St. Patrick day Day-themed milkshake!
As always remember, Saint Patrick’s Day in Chicago is a celebration of Irish culture and heritage, so embrace the festivities, but do so responsibly. Sláinte! (Cheers!)
What a fun article!
Thanks for reading!