Don’t miss River O’ Green, Downtown Tampa’s biggest Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration ever!
- Alastair Mac
- Mar 11
- 3 min read
The annual River O' Green Fest is returning to downtown Tampa with lots of Irish fare and beer, plus the annual dyeing of the Hillsborough River to a shade of Kelly green!
River O’ Green Fest is an annual, free event to kick off the St. Patrick’s Day holiday in Tampa, with thousands of revelers watching as the Hillsborough River is transformed into a bright shade of green.
This day of festive fun returns to Tampa's Downtown on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at the beautiful Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
The free event kicks off at 11 am with the Hillsborough River transformed into a bright shade of green for the St. Patrick's Day holiday. The river provides a perfect backdrop to the Irish-themed celebration that includes live entertainment, fun and games for everyone, plus lots of kids activities, Irish fare and beer!
The River O’Green Fest is organized by Tampa’s Downtown Partnership with the City of Tampa and takes place along Tampa's Riverwalk.
“Seeing our Hillsborough River turn emerald green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is a great reminder of the excitement and fun that Tampa has to offer,” commented Mayor Jane Castor. “I know how much I look forward to this annual tradition and the opportunity it brings to come together and celebrate all that makes our city great.”
There will be so much to look forward to including live performances featuring music, poetry, and traditional Irish step dancing, several food and beverage vendors with Irish themed bites and drinks, fun games including a cabbage toss, a Lucky Charms eating contest, Irish hurling, and more, including prizes and giveaways
EVENT LINEUP:
11 am – Festival & River Coloring Begins
11:15 am-12:45 pm – Paddy O’Furniture Performance
11:30 am – Growhouse Tampa Poet Performance
1 pm – Finnegan Irish Dance Academy Performance
1:15-2:45 pm – Irish Buskers Performance
2:30 pm – Growhouse Tampa Poet Performance
3 pm – Finnegan Irish Dance Academy Performance
3:30 pm – Pet Costume Contest – sponsored by Barrymore Hotel
4:-5:45 pm – Phoenix Five Performance
5:30 pm – Last Call for Alc. Beverage Sales
6 pm – Festival Concludes
If you are curious about the dye and its impact on the environment, organisers say that the dye used to turn the Hillsborough River green is completely safe.
The dye is completely safe for the environment, non-toxic, biodegradable, meets all EPA standards and is certified for use by NSF Std 60. In fact, it’s the same dye often used in water systems to trace the flow of drinking water, and is the same dye used in food and in eye surgery to trace blood vessels.
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