CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- St. Patrick's Day weekend kicked off Saturday with the annual dyeing of the Chicago River and a parade to follow, which thousands turned out for.
The Chicago River was dyed an emerald green ahead of the 69th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Holly Lintner has been bringing her international exchange students to the St. Patrick's Day celebrations downtown for eight years.
She feels it's a great cultural experience for the students from all over the world.
"They get to see how a city that had a lot of Irish culture traditionally is really celebrating that culture, so it's just a good way to show how we celebrate and embrace all cultures here in the United States.
Lintner found a great spot on Wacker Drive along the Riverfront with her group of teenagers ranging from several countries including Germany, Serbia, Italy, Thailand-all here to enjoy the St. Patrick's Day festivities.
Julian Gatti came to watch the Chicago River be dyed green for the first time. The 18- year-old student was impressed with the giant crowd along Wacker Drive.
"It's a Chicago tradition and I wanted to come down here with my friends and experience it," he said.
No other American city does St. Patrick's Day like Chicago, said
Mitchell Magee, who was attending the events for his eleventh year with Wayne Weems.
"It's grown quite a bit. The safety is really kind of put in place nowadays," Magee added.
Both men were "rocking a couple of kilts" and enduring the cold.
The St. Patrick's Day fun continues Sunday with the South Side Irish parade and the Northwest Side Irish Parade.
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