DOWNTOWN — Downtown streets were bathed in green Saturday as the welcome warm temperatures drew large crowds of revelers to watch the annual Downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade and dyeing of the Chicago River.
Hannah Aztlan, 21, of Andersonville, arrived around 8:15 a.m. to make sure she had a good spot for the dyeing of the river.
"I've been here before but I came to support my boyfriend who will be on a boat after the river is dyed playing the bagpipes. I wanted to make sure I had a good spot," Aztlan added.
"The whole day is so fun," Aztlan said. "It draws so many people in and it's so festive."
Catie Albert, 36, of Irving Park came out with her family to see the dyeing of the river.
"It's such a fun experience," said Albert, who has been bringing her daughter to the festivities since she was born.
Many people flew in from out-of-state to witness the dyeing of the river and experience the St. Patrick's Day festivities.
Arianna Heideman, 36, and a few friends from Denver, all dressed in green tutus and staked a spot on the north side of the river.
"I've always wanted to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Chicago," said Heideman, who has been planning the trip for a few months.
"Another item on my bucket list checked," she said.
Along Columbus Drive, thousands of people lined the streets to watch the 60th Annual Downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and mayoral candidate Jesus Chuy Garcia made their way down the parade route separately. Emanuel stopped to shake hands with spectators along the way.
Jim and Karen Nielson, former residents of the South Side who now live in the south suburbs, have been attending the parade since childhood.
"I was a baby when I went to my first St. Patrick's Day," said Jim Nielson, who turns 64 on St. Patrick's Day.
"We drive up here and stay the weekend since it's both our birthdays," said his wife, whose birthday is on Wednesday.
"It's all good fun. We get to celebrate the day, our birthdays and have a green beer or two," Jim Nielson added.
Jim Stewart, 49, and Ramon Romantico, 50, have been taking the train to Chicago from Gary, Ind. for the last 20 years for the parade.
"We come for the joy of it all," Stewart said.
"The parade is so festive," Romantico added. "Everyone is wearing green — it's a lot of fun."
Susan Ridge and her family traveled from Michigan to experience their first Chicago St. Patrick's Day.
"We have been planning this for months," Ridge said. "We love it so far."
Ridge and her family plan to stay through Tuesday to be around on St. Patrick's Day.
"I'm very Irish, it's a must," Ridge added.
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