Saint Patrick's Day 2014: Chicago River turns green

The Chicago River being dyed green ahead of the St. Patrick's Day parade (AP)

The Chicago River glowed a bright emerald green yesterday as the city kicked off its St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Thousands of cheering onlookers clustered along downtown bridges as members of Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union Local 130 began dumping containers of dye into the river from motorboats Saturday morning. The annual tradition began at 9:30 a.m. and immediately precedes the St. Patrick's Day parade.

The union has done the dyeing since 1962. Organisers had feared that large chunks of ice would impede the process, but recent warm temperatures kept the river clear. The hue typically lasts about six to 12 hours.

The parade began at noon. The route winds through downtown and ends at the landmark Buckingham Fountain.

A second parade on the city's South Side takes place Sunday.