O' Hillsborough River Goes Green In Time For St. Patrick's Day

TAMPA, FL — Sure and begorrah, this is a sight you have to see to believe.

It isn't envy that turned the Hillsborough River green on Friday. It's pride.

After taking a two-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Tampa has resumed its tradition of dying the Hillsborough River a vibrant Kelly green in preparation for the Mayor's River O' Green Fest Saturday, March 12.

Ahead of the festival, city workers used a bright non-toxic dye to transform the river into a ribbon of green at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, where the St. Patrick's Day celebration will take place.

“We are so excited to bring back this wonderful Tampa tradition,” said Lynda Remund, president and CEO of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, which hosts the Mayor's River O' Green Fest with the city of Tampa. “We haven’t been able to host our signature event since 2019, so we know people are looking forward to putting on their green garb, pulling out their best Irish accent, and celebrating the holiday in the greatest city.”

"It's been way too long since Tampa got its Irish on, so let's get ready to shamrock and roll at River O' Green 2022," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said. "One thing we can all a-green on is that this town knows how to paddy."

The dye is safe for the environment, biodegradable, meets all EPA standards and is certified for use by the National Sanitation Foundation Standard 60. In fact, it's the same dye often used in water systems to trace the flow of drinking water, in eye surgeries to trace blood vessels and in food.

Presented by Grow Financial, the free River O' Green Fest runs March 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Attendees will enjoy live Irish drinking songs and ballads, dancers performing the Irish Ceili (pronounced kay-lee), consisting of quadrilles, reels, jogs and round dances, barrels of Irish beer and food trucks, some of which will dig out their corned beef and cabbage recipes for the occasion.

Family activities include a scavenger hunt, a leprechaun costume contest in which contestants dress up in their best Irish garb and perform a jig on the dance floor, a cabbage toss and a corn hole toss. The event is also dog friendly.

Arrive early and participate in the River O' Green Gallop, a 1-mile fun run along the Tampa Riverwalk to the Tampa Bay History Museum and back in time for the start of the festival.

Walk-up registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the southwest corner of Curtis Hixon Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, and the race begins at 9:30 a.m.

Be sure to register early; space is limited. All participants will receive a Mayor's River O' Green T-shirt. The cost is $30 and proceeds will go to the Downtown Tampa Metropolitan YMCA's annual campaign to raise funds for swim lessons for kids and the YMCA's cancer survivor program.

Click here to register

A free and secure bike valet will be offered at the front of the park, so leave the car at home and ride your bikes over. For route suggestions, click here.