Lake Katherine to Dye Waterfall Green for St. Patrick's Day

An emerald waterfall, green river floats and a fun craft project for children will all be on the St. Patrick’s Day menu at Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanical Gardens on March 17.

To celebrate the annual day of the Irish, the non-profit park in Palos Heights will be creating a little magic as they dye their much-loved waterfall emerald green!

Around two hundred visitors are expected to turn out to ‘enjoy the craic’ as the two free events to turn the waterfall green commence at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17. Children are encouraged to dress up in green and the nature center will be giving away complimentary samples of Green River.

“It is wonderful to see the amazed expressions of the children as the clear waters of the waterfall turn vibrant green and cascade over the rocks,” says operation manager Gareth Blakesley. “The dye we use is biodegradable so does not affect either the wildlife or surrounding habitat.”

Parents of kindergarten to grade 5 children are also encouraged to sign up their little ones for Lake Katherine’s ‘Erin Go Braugh’ afterschool program the same afternoon. After watching the waterfall turn green with their family at 4pm, children taking part will be invited to head to the nature center to sip on green river floats and create a special ‘Paddy’s Day’ project to take home. The ‘Erin Go Braugh’ program (#322) cost $5 per child and pre-registration is required at the Nature Center.

PHOTO CAPTION: Adults and children gather by the Lake Katherine waterfall in Palos Heights to watch the waters turn green at last year’s free St Patrick’s Day celebrations.