A couple of shots from the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Chicago. As I am sure most people know, Chicago dyes their river kelly-green on that day. It’s kind of gross.
Amazingly, the best St. Patty’s day fest I’ve ever been to was in Phoenix. I think it had more to do with the time in my life, but Phoenix has a surprisingly cool festival/field day thing I enjoyed a lot more than a parade.
Desirae – I honestly don’t know! It is a deep and vivid green – and I’m not sure what happens to it afterward. Because it’s not green all year! Or at least not THAT green!
It’s a very strange effect. Mesmerizing, yet also rather ikky.
I forget what they use to get it green, but I think it’s the plumber’s union that does it, and they dump the stuff in (non-toxic, allegedly) and then these motorboats go racing around churning it up and mixing it in. It was a BIG deal when I was growing up, as was the parade. Like 20-30% of kids wouldn’t even be in school that day (it was not held on a Saturday as it is now, it was on the actual day), because they went or were in the parade.
I…did not know that about the river. And now I’m kind of simultaneously disgusted/fascinated.
I think the whole simultaneous disgusted/fascinated response is really the only logical response to have!!!
It’s so GROSS and then at moments I’d be like, “Oh, look, pretty green!”
I agree. The green river is off-putting.
Amazingly, the best St. Patty’s day fest I’ve ever been to was in Phoenix. I think it had more to do with the time in my life, but Phoenix has a surprisingly cool festival/field day thing I enjoyed a lot more than a parade.
This may be showing my ignorance,but how on earth do you dye a river green? Doesn’t the colour sort of just…flow away?
Desirae – I honestly don’t know! It is a deep and vivid green – and I’m not sure what happens to it afterward. Because it’s not green all year! Or at least not THAT green!
It’s a very strange effect. Mesmerizing, yet also rather ikky.
That shot of your shoes is fantastic. The texture, the color…wonderful photograph.
I forget what they use to get it green, but I think it’s the plumber’s union that does it, and they dump the stuff in (non-toxic, allegedly) and then these motorboats go racing around churning it up and mixing it in. It was a BIG deal when I was growing up, as was the parade. Like 20-30% of kids wouldn’t even be in school that day (it was not held on a Saturday as it is now, it was on the actual day), because they went or were in the parade.
Ann – thank you for the green-river information!
Did you ever march in the parade with an irish dance group or your tap-dancing troupe or anything like that?