2025 ‘River O’ Green’ St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Tampa: What to Expect

The city of Tampa is gearing up for a fun-filled St. Patrick’s Day celebration with the annual ‘River O’ Green’ festival taking place on Saturday. The festivities kick off at 11 a.m. with the traditional dyeing of the Hillsborough River green, a practice that has been a staple since 2012.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, organized by the Tampa Rough Riders, will follow the same route as last year, starting downtown at Morgan Street and Madison Street and ending at Ashley Drive and Polk Street. However, this year the parade will start at 3 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

Event organizers are expecting a large turnout and have made preparations to ensure a smooth experience for attendees. Ivy Lupco with Tampa Downtown Partnership mentioned that there will be food and beer options available, as well as live music from local Irish bands and a new “Leprechaun’s Hideout” tent at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

To accommodate the influx of visitors, the city is encouraging people to utilize alternative transportation options such as the free TECO Streetcar, HART buses, rentable scooters, or rideshare services. Boaters are also reminded that the Hillsborough River will be closed off to traffic between Cass Street and Kennedy Boulevard from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

With plenty of entertainment and activities planned, the ‘River O’ Green’ festival promises to be a lively and festive celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Tampa.