Chicago decided to continue its St. Patrick’s Day tradition of tinting the river green this year, fulfilling a city promise in an attempt to achieve some sense of normality during the coronavirus pandemic.
There will be no St. Patrick’s Day parade, and city officials have issued strict guidelines on how to gather in bars to celebrate. But the river will turn green, officials said.
Thousands of people normally gathered to watch Plumbers Union Local 130 paint the river before the holiday.
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The streets along the Chicago River are still almost empty, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot has assured that some things will not change on one of the busiest holidays in the Windy City.
The city did not publicize the event, but residents woke up on Saturday to see the green river as a clover.
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The tradition began in 1962 and continued every year until 2020, when it was interrupted due to the pandemic, FOX 32 reported.
Small groups of people witnessed the process, some even applauding the city’s surprise decision, reported the Chicago Tribune.
The first boat left just after 7 am on Saturday, leaving a trail of green.
“We are happy that Mayor Lightfoot decided to continue with this tradition because we really missed it last year,” Jones, 59, told the newspaper. “But it’s a beautiful day.”
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The Riverwalk will remain closed during the day, and anyone who witnessed the tradition had a chance to take a picture before authorities asked them to leave.