According to the story, the dye used to detect leaks in the sewer system along the Chicago River turned the water green, and the idea was born to dye the river green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

The practice of dyeing the Chicago River green began in 1962, but its roots lie in a less festive endeavor. In the 1960s, city workers used green dye to trace illegal sewage discharges into the river.

One of Chicago’s favorite traditions will take place next weekend, as the Chicago River will be dyed a brilliant shade of green as part of the city’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

St. Patrick's Day brings green decorations, outfits and even beer, so it's only fitting that the nation's county with the most Irish people take it a step further and dye a waterway green.

The city does not dye the Savannah River green for St. Patrick's Day, although it's a question that comes up each and every year. The town does dye the Forsyth Park Fountain for the celebration ...

This year, the 'River O'Green' tradition will continue. Starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, a green dye will be poured into a portion of the river to temporarily turn the water green. This part of ...

The Museum Reach stretch gets the green treatment 11 a.m. Saturday, while the River Walk stretch gets double the dye with applications at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. So what makes our river such ...

Members of Chicago Plumbers Local 130 dye the Chicago River green Saturday. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Share Ryan Whitacre and Josh Sokol bass fished the discharges downtown Saturday in the adyed green ...

Crowds began forming early Saturday morning in downtown Chicago to kick off the city’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend, with thousands lining Wacker Drive from Wolf Point to DuSable Lake Shore Drive ...