TAMPA -- Chicago may have invented the tradition of dying a river green for St. Patrick's Day (inadvertently) and other cities may have been earlier adopters, but a spokesperson for Tampa's Irish-themed celebration refuses to take a back seat to any predecessors.
"While we might not have started this tradition, we definitely perfected it." Rachel Radawec works with the Tampa Downtown Partnership, which organizes the River O'Green Fest. "I think we do it better than anyone else in the country."
Several things are different about this year's festival. It's happening one day early on Saturday (16), since St. Patrick's Day is on a Sunday this year. It's adding more Irish-themed entertainment, along with Irish-themed food and of course, green beer. To cap things off, the Rough Riders have moved their St. Patrick's Day from Ybor City to downtown, stepping off at 5:00 p.m.
Other aspects of the festival are returning this year. The GAA Irish Hurling Club is putting on hurling demonstrations, and Freedom Boat Club is taking people to tour the green river waters.
Parking will be at a premium as downtown garages and spaces are expected to fill up quickly. Organizers say your best bets may be the Fort Brooke garage or garages in Ybor City.
Listen to an interview with Rachel Radawec below:
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