Chicago is hands down the best city in the US to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! The city bursts alive with parties, Guinness, and so much Irish pride. Green will be everywhere you look so don’t forget to pack some green clothes (like I did – ugh!). It’s one of the busiest weekends in the city so a little bit of pre-planning is required to make the most out of your weekend. Learn from some of my mistakes! Here are my top tips for visiting Chicago on St. Patrick’s Day weekend!
Watching the river turn green
Here’s a pretty big “learn from my mistakes” moment for you! While looking forward to the whole weekend, watching the river get dyed green was top of the list of things I was most excited for. The river dying was set to start at 10:00 am, so imagine my excitement when my overnight Amtrak train from Buffalo rolled in early. Union Station sits right on the river so I only had to walk a few steps outside. I snagged a prime spot on the Madison Street Bridge to watch the boats dye the river. Well, I waited, and waited, and waited. 10:30 am rolls by, 11:00 am rolls by, and then it was 11:30 am and I knew something was wrong. Turns out, they don’t dye the river over there. Ugh!
If you want to see the actual dying, you need to go over onto E. Wacker Street, near the Riverwalk (around here). The best viewing areas will be between State Street and Columbus Drive. By the time I made my way over, the river was a bright, vibrant green, but I was bummed to have missed the dying. The color will eventually make its way down the river, but it will be the brightest in this area throughout the weekend (and for a few days after).
The famous parade
The St. Patrick’s Day parade was another top of my list. It’s world famous! In 2025, the parade ran down Columbus Drive through Grant Park. There were only two entry points to get into the parade- one on Jackson Dr. and another on Ida B. Wells Dr. Definitely check the specific details when you are visiting, as they might change!
Because I spent so much time waiting for the river dying (in the wrong spot), I arrived to the parade pretty late. And by “pretty late” I mean on time, 12:15 pm (when the parade was supposed to start). Both the entry point and the parade route were completely mobbed. I walked up and down the route as far as I could before I couldn’t take feeling claustrophobic any more. If you plan to attend the parade, you’re going to want to arrive plenty early if you want a spot where you can see! I was able to catch the parade highlights later that evening on the local news, but learn from my mistakes if you want to see it live!
Book attractions in advance
Since this is one of the busiest times in the City for tourists, book as much as you can in advance! I ended up buying a CityPass a few weeks before my trip, and it was a great way to confirm my reservations at attractions (and save a little money)! There are two CityPass options in Chicago- the regular CityPass and the C3 pass. Since I was only in town for a weekend, I opted for the C3 pass, which gave me admission to my choice of 3 attractions. I thought this was the perfect option for a short visit. It gave me a chance to see a lot of the city, without being overbooked. The two pass options are compared in more detail here.
What I chose with the CityPass C3 pass
My three selections were pretty different, but I feel like I really got the best that Chicago has to offer! My first was an architecture river tour with Shoreline Sightseeing. We rode down the bright green river through the central city and learned about the different buildings and styles of architechure. We then went out into the harbor on Lake Michigan for a 360 degree spin to view the skyline. I asbolutely loved this tour! It was a great way to see a lot of the city and learn about Chicago’s interesting history! These tours booked up quickly as everyone wanted to cruise down the green river, so I’m glad I snagged a spot!
Next up was up to the Skydeck. The Skydeck is an attraction that takes you up to the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower). While up here, you get incredible views of the city and Lake Michigan. You can also stand out on a glass floor called The Ledge. Your knees may buckle a bit, but it’s worth it! Finally, I spent the next afternoon at the Art Institute of Chicago. This museum has so much to offer- many famous pieces that even I recognized! My favorite exhibit was the impressionalist wing viewing pieces by my favorite artist Claude Monet. I also found myself drawn to pieces by Alfred Sisley. Am I… an art enthusiast now?
Make reservations!
Attractions are smart to book in advance, but don’t forget about everything else you want to do while visiting Chicago on St. Patrick’s Day! Restaurants along the river and in the central downtown loop area were all bursting at the seams. It was impossible to get in anywhere without reservations! Even fast food places like Raising Canes or Chick-fil-A had lines out the door and around the block. It was madness! If you’re looking for a sit-down meal, or even entry into one of the many parties hosted by the various venues downtown, reservations are a must. The earlier the better to secure your place. If plans change, you can always cancel! I ended up relying on my bag of Garrett popcorn to hold me over all afternoon because I couldn’t get in anywhere for a proper meal! Don’t be like me.
Exploring the rest of Chicago
Visiting Chicago on St. Patrick’s Day weekend is all fun, but make sure you leave time to explore the rest that Chicago has to offer! What I found perfect about the weekend was that it left time for both. Saturday is the big St. Patrick’s Day – when the river will be dyed, the parade takes place, and city is hopping. On Sunday however, the city felt much more “back to normal.” Sure, the river was still bright green and all the shops were still decked out in their Irish decor, but it felt much more tame. I could walk through the streets without feeling like a sardine or grab something to eat without waiting in a line out the door. Maybe I’m getting old, but this day was so enjoyable!
More Chicago highlights
I got up bright and early and put some serious miles on my walking shoes. Coffee and donuts at Stan’s, followed by a tranquil visit to Millennium Park and Cloud Gate (the bean!). This was followed by a nice walk out to the waterfront, a stroll down Navy Pier, and enjoyed the city views from the Ohio Street Beach. The visit to the Art Institute of Chicago was this afternoon, followed by a nice walk through the West Loop neighborhood down Randolph Street. This street and neighborhood are beautiful, and have tons of high-end stores and boutiques to bop in and out of!
Of course though, the star of the show in this neighborhood is the McDonald’s Global Headquarters. The corporate offices here also have a restaurant which features a handful of items from their international menus! The items rotate regularly, so it’s fun to pop in and see what they are offering! If you want to check the menu in advance, I recommend looking this specific location up on Uber Eats, here.
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