The dyeing of the river for St. Patrick's Day drew an eclectic crowd to downtown Chicago on Saturday.Nadine Freiheit, 52, drove from her home in Mazeppa, Minnesota, for the revelry. Dressed in a tri-colored skirt over leggings, knee-high socks that look like boots with buckles on them and lots of be ads and a green baseball cap, Freheit has been to several St. Patrick’s Day events, including in Boston and Minneapolis, to celebrate her Irish heritage.“My grandma was a McNulty, and so it runs deep in our bloodline,” said Freiheit, who was there with a friend and her sister.She typically prefers wine, but she’ll be imbibing Irish beer this weekend to get into the spirit. Nadine Freiheit smiles as she speaks to a reporter about St. Patrick’s Day in the Loop, Saturday, March 15, 2025.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Radgel Morales, who came from Arizona, had the same idea."I'm excited to drink; this celebration is all for that," said Morales, who was decked out in a shimmery green top and "mermaid pants." Related Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parade and river dyeing details Where to get a pint of Guinness in Chicago for St. Patrick’s Day Chicago pubs prep for St. Patrick’s Day ‘splitting the G’ TikTok trend Radgel Morales of Arizona shows off her St. Patrick’s Day look, sparkly and shimmery green top and “mermaid pants.” | Pat Nabong/Sun-TimesPat Nabong/Sun-Times Nicholas Damery, 30, of Chicago was there to serenade attendees with his bagpipes.The musician wore a kilt, and his cardboard tip box had “proposal ring fund” written on it in black marker.The catch is that Damery is single.He said he knows the gag about his fake girlfriend will earn him more tips.“‘Every time someone comes up, ‘What’s her name? What’s her name?’ I make up a new name. Jessica. Oh, Ashley. I go, ‘Oh, I love her so much.' Total lie. I’m a liar,” he said.The story is effective. Last year, Damery said he collected roughly $1,500 in tips from St. Patrick’s Day parties. Nicholas Damery, who is single, plays a bag pipe while a spectator donates to his “proposal ring fund,” a gimmick he uses to attract donations, in the Loop, Saturday, March 15, 2025. | Pat Nabong/Sun-TimesPat Nabong/Sun-Times After the Chicago Plumbers Local 130 turned the Chicago River green, thousands flocked to Columbus Drive for the annual downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade. Regulars of the parade, like the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band and the Trinitiy Irish Dancers, marched as spectators donned green hats, necklaces and shirts. People on the Chicago Plumbers Local 130 boat celebrate as members of the union dye the Chicago River green Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 1 of 24 Cheerleaders perform on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 2 of 24 A member of the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band performs on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 3 of 24 Members of Chicago Plumbers Local 130 dye the Chicago River green Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 4 of 24 Spectators stand on the side of the bridge as they wait for Chicago Plumbers Local 130 to dye the Chicago River green Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 5 of 24 Spectators catch candy on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 6 of 24 Chicago Plumbers Local 130 dye the Chicago River green as people record videos on their phones Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 7 of 24 Nadine Freiheit wears green accessories to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the Loop on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 8 of 24 The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies perform on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 9 of 24 Spectators dressed as leprechauns cheer on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 10 of 24 Gov. J.B. Pritzker laughs with St. Patrick’s Day revelers before the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade near Columbus Drive on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 11 of 24 Politicians, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton wave to paradegoers on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 12 of 24 Kiley Jacobs pets her dog Potato on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 13 of 24 A mini therapy horse wears St. Patrick’s Day-themed socks during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 14 of 24 Members of the Trinity Irish Dance group perform on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 15 of 24 Kids with an American flag peek through the handles of a float on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 16 of 24 Members of Chicago Plumbers Local 130 dye the Chicago River green Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 17 of 24 Spectators thumb wrestle on Wacker Drive as others watch the Chicago River turn green in the Loop on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 18 of 24 A paradegoer on Misericordia’s float throws candy to spectators on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 19 of 24 People wearing green sunglasses, a green mustache and other St. Patrick’s Day-themed apparel walk on Wacker Drive before Chicago Plumbers Local 130 dye the Chicago River green Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 20 of 24 A spectator wears a headband that reads, “Kiss me” on Wacker Drive in the Loop ahead of St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 21 of 24 Spectators wearing masks that look like the Irish flag watch the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Columbus Drive on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 22 of 24 Peter O’Brien hypes up the crowd on Columbus Drive during the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 23 of 24 Members of Chicago Plumbers Local 130 dye the Chicago River green Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 24 of 24 ...read more read less