Chicago is the only city in the world that dyes its river green for St. Patrick's Day, and the party Chicago throws to mark the holiday is well worth traveling for. The highlight of Chicago's festivities takes place on the Saturday before the holiday, when the local plumber's union pours a vegetable-based dye into the Chicago River, turning it a brilliant shade of green just in time for one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the country.
There are two kinds of bars on St. Patrick's Day: places that throw a leprechaun on the door, and real Irish pubs that celebrate with live music, dancing, and traditional food and drink.