McHenry Shamrocks activities include dyeing the river green

(Photos courtesy of McHenry Parks and Recreation) The City of McHenry dyes the Fox River green for St. Patrick's Day last year. Don't worry, they're doing it again this year.

There’s a big city Southeast of McHenry that is known to dye its river green for St. Patrick’s Day. But did you know you don’t have to leave McHenry to enjoy the same festive event and atmosphere? That’s right – they dye the Fox River green in McHenry for St. Patrick’s Day. 

The city also offers three days of events for the whole family that will make St. Patrick’s Day in McHenry a festive time you’ll all enjoy.

Watching them turn the river Irish green is worth your time. Folks from Blarney Island come out and spread the dye from jet skis at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16. They also dye Boone Creek next to the Riverwalk.

The action actually kicks off on Friday night with food trucks and a 40X140-foot heated tent. Spiked and regular hot chocolate are available and open container alcohol is allowed until 6 p.m.

This overhead view shows the spirit of the blarney shining green in the Fox River by Route 120 in McHenry.

The tent is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday (with open container alcohol permitted throughout the Green Street and Riverside Drive area from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.) Spiked and regular hot chocolate are available on site from all Marine Retro Rentals and their shipping containers.

Saturday, they have bounce houses and face painting for the wee-little ones, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade starting at noon. The parade runs from by the football fields on Kane Avenue, down Green Street to Pearl Street and over to Riverside Drive.

Saturday winds up with a St. Patrick’s fireworks display.

Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, the tent is open from noon to 7 p.m. and open container rules apply once again in the Green Street and Riverside Drive areas from Noon to 6 p.m.