St. Patrick’s Day Kids Cruise

Free

TICKETS GO ON SALE
January 1, 2026

NEXT EVENT
March 14, 2026

Same experience, just with more juice boxes. Kids love watching the Chicago River dyeing, but let’s face it—adults love it, too. You’ll get a front-row seat, plus plenty of interactive fun and Irish music, too. This 90-minute cruise is one of our favorite family-friendly adventures.

The boat boards, the music kicks in, the river turns green... and just like that, St. Patrick’s Day becomes their new favorite holiday. Wendella's St. Patrick’s Day Kids Cruise is a family-friendly way to experience one of the city’s most beloved traditions. You’ll cruise right through the heart of the Shamrock green dyeing of the Chicago River.

This 90-minute cruise includes festive beads, Irish music, and plenty of fun for the little ones. Kids can have their faces painted and eat cookies to their hearts' content, while grown-ups can take in the skyline and maybe even do a little jig. It’s a relaxed, no-stress way to mark the holiday together.

Most families head to the open-air upper deck to take in the views, but you can also head down to the lower level for climate-controlled seating and restrooms. Boarding begins 15 minutes before departure, so plan to arrive early to get settled before the festivities begin.

Whether it’s your first time seeing the river turn green or a tradition in the making, this is a St. Patrick’s Day your little leprechauns won’t forget.

• Front-row seat to the river dyeing!
• Open-air and indoor seating
• Friendly crew to answer your questions
• Face painting
• Cookies
• St. Patrick’s Day beads
• Family-friendly music
• Iconic skyline views
• Restrooms on board

We depart rain or shine; Chicago weather is unpredictable, but our boats are built for it. We recommend arriving at the dock 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time since boarding typically begins 15 minutes prior. All bags are subject to screening, and outside alcohol or weapons are not allowed. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable after the scheduled departure time. Not sure where to go? Head to 400 N Michigan Avenue, right by the historic Wrigley Building at the northwest corner of the DuSable (Michigan Avenue) Bridge. For additional info chat with us, or give us a call.

We have a selection of local favorites available for purchase, including snacks, candy, soft drinks, beer, wine, hard seltzer, cider, and cocktails. Find our full Menu here.

Our boats are wheelchair accessible from our West Dock, with a ramp to the upper deck. All of our boats have ADA-compliant restrooms. Some of our boats have an elevator from the upper to lower deck, where the bar and restrooms are located. Please call us in advance on 312-337-1446 so we can assist.

Recommended for:
  • Replacing screens with skyline
  • Your annual “cool parent” moment
  • Getting festive not frazzled
  • An outing everyone agrees on

Your Cruise

Start & End
We'll meet you at 400 N Michigan Avenue. If you or anyone in your party has limited mobility or has a wheelchair, please call us in advance (312)337-1146 so we can accommodate you.

Sights
Here are some (not all!) of the landmarks you'll see along the way.

  1. Chicago Riverwalk
  2. Merchandise Mart
  3. Wolf Point
  4. Willis Tower
  5. Centennial Fountain
  6. Navy Pier

All routes are subject to change without notice.

Image Map

FAQ

Know before you go

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