Charlotte's Whitewater Center Prepares to Turn Its River Green Saturday for St. Patrick's Day

Chicago may be best known for dyeing its river green around St. Patrick's Day, but Charlotte has a version of the tradition too. The U.S. National Whitewater Center has been turning its manmade river green since 2011 as part of an event called the Green River Revival.

This year's celebration is set for Saturday, March 14. It is free to attend, though some activities require a pass or registration. The program includes the Color Me Green 5k trail run, yoga sessions, live music and the center's regular attractions.

The color comes from fluorescein, a water-tracing agent. Stephen Shank, the center's operations manager, told WFAE's Nick de la Canal that the bright green glow comes from light reflecting off the water. Shank said he does not know the exact quantity used, but the center buys the substance "by the barrel."

Shank described the agent as harmless to the river and to people rafting through it. He said fluorescein is commonly used in streams and rivers, and even at home, to find leaks and trace how water is moving.

The way the dye is introduced explains the dramatic effect. The river's 12 million gallons collect in a lower pond, and seven pumps send the water up to a top pond, from which gravity pushes it down the channel. Staff pour the fluorescein in at the pumps. Shank said that for visitors who are at the center at 1 p.m. and facing the pumps, the change is sudden, with green water appearing to pour into the upper pond. He estimated it takes 15 to 20 minutes for the color to spread through all 12 million gallons.

A character the center calls its resident leprechaun is part of the ritual. Asked whether he plays the role, Shank said he does not, describing the person as a longtime staff member whose identity he would not reveal.

Shank, who joined the center in 2020, recalled the first time he saw the river turn green. The leprechaun stood atop the pump house setting off smoke bombs and small fireworks, and the crackling noise served as a signal that the change was underway. He recommended arriving around 1 p.m. to see it.

Among his favorite parts of the day, Shank named the Color Me Green trail race, where he said the leprechaun will also appear. He described it as the event for anyone who wants to get messy and finish the run covered in green, followed by time on the trails and some live music.