Tampa celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with River O’ Green

Tampa kicked off St. Patrick’s Day weekend on Saturday with an ode to the Irish, turning the Hillsborough River a deep shade of green between the Cass Street and Kennedy bridges.

The city renewed the tradition that was started in 2012 by former Mayor Bob Buckhorn by dyeing the waterway for the River O’ Green Fest in Curtis Hixon Park.

Boaters make their way along the river near Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and the Tampa Riverwalk during the River O’ Green Fest on Saturday in Tampa. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]

Spectators watch the hundreds of boats make their way along the river from the Tampa Riverwalk during the River O’ Green Fest on Saturday in Tampa. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]

The festival drew revelers with live music, kids activities and plenty of beer. New this year was the addition of the Tampa Rough Riders parade, a tradition that for nearly 30 years had been held in Ybor City as an evening parade. It will begin at 5 p.m. in downtown Tampa.

Though the practice turning the river green has been going on for more than a decade, some critics have called on the city to end it. They worry that the dye could be causing ecological harm and that it sends the wrong message about how we treat our natural resources.