Turn back to the Chicago River coloring when the celebrations for St. Patrick's Day start-NBC Chicago

The color of Chicago River is officially completed because the celebrations for St. Patrick's Day are underway in the city.

The legendary tradition transforms the city center of Chicago Waterway into a bright green and lasts several days because several events take place in the whole city to St. Patrick's Day.

While the dye takes several days, the bright color will fade after a few hours immediately after coloring.

However, the color of the river takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

The full color of 2025 Chicago River can be seen in the player mentioned above.

Here is what you need to know about the annual tradition of St. Patrick's Day in the city:

When did the tradition began?

The story began in 1961, when Stephen Bailey, the managing director of the Chicago Plumbers Local 130 Union, was approached by a plumber whose overall was colored a remarkably brilliant green tone.

According to the story, the dye with which the leaks along the Chicago River were grasped in the wastewater system, and the idea was born to dye the Green River in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

Every year the journeyman sticks the local 130 on the boats on the Chicago river and pours an orange preparation into the water. In an apparent eye, the dye changes from orange to green, and the water retains this brilliant color for the legendary vacation.

What is in the dye?

The answer to this has been a mystery for years.

The Plumbers Union, Chicago says, says: “Today the river color is still today.”

But you will not be able to find your recipe anywhere.

“Your environmentally friendly dye formula remains a tight secret secret,” says Chicago.

How do you dye it green?

Every year the Chicago Plumber's Union uses boats along the Chicago River, using a preparation that colored from plump pumps and leak pumps.

But the mysterious mix does not come out green – it is actually orange.

As soon as the dye uses, the color changes green.

According to Local 130, other cities have tried similar services, but have never been successful.