TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa’s River O’ Green Fest kicks off Saturday at Curtis Hixon Park for the city's annual St. Patrick's Day festival.

The event has run for more than a decade, and the city of Tampa says over the years it has become a nationally recognized event.

More than 10,000 people are expected at Curtis Hixon Park Saturday for the dyeing of the river at 11 a.m., and the popular pet decorating contest to follow.

What You Need To Know

  • River O' Green Fest to attract more than 10,000 people in Downtown Tampa this weekend

  • The festival has been a tradition in Tampa for more than a decade

  • Festival kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday with the dyeing of the Hillsborough River green 

  • Annual Rough Riders St Patrick's Day Parade begins at 3 p.m.

Tampa’s Downtown Partnership says this year it has added a new attraction: the Leprechaun Hideout.

It’s a large shaded area near the river where attendees can grab food and take a break from the sun.

“When we do events like this we always want to ensure the events are free, open, not gated,” said Shaun Drinkard, Senior Vice President of Operations for Tampa’s Downtown Partnership. “So we want people to come down and see the attraction, but then spend the day down here. We want them to park here, we want them to use transit and move around downtown, go to restaurants, go to other venues, the cultural institutions. It’s a day experience for people in Downtown Tampa.”

City crews will begin dying the river green by boat at 11 a.m., and that will be followed by the annual Rough Riders St. Patrick’s Day Parade set to being at 3 p.m.