FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Get Green is hosted by the Fort Wayne Professional Firefighters Local 124. It’s an annual family-friendly Saint Patrick’s Day celebration that began in 1999 as an hour-long river greening party along the Wells Street Corridor.

“It started off as a bunch of Irish men running down to the river and throwing some green dye in there and hanging out. Then it turned into more of a party. Families started coming down and we thought what better way to support the community then to start getting involved with local charities to generate revenue, so it’s just kind of turned into a bigger event,” said President of the Fort Wayne Professional Firefighters Jeremy Bush. 

The event kicks off at 9:00 a.m., Saturday morning.  Events include the 5K-Kilt Run/Walk, Strongman Competition, Parade, River Greening, Lucky Charms Eating Competition, Gold Coin Hunt, live music, food, drinks and more.

Bush says all the proceeds raised from the event will go to local charities, “One of which is the Fort Wayne Ribbon Chicks, a local support group for women in various stages of recovery with breast cancer. We also have a Fallen Heroes fund which goes to benefit firefighters and police officers that are injured in the line of duty and the proceeds also go to burn survivors.”

EVENTS: 

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 5-Kilt Run/Walk                          Begins and ends at corner of Superior and Calhoun

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. River Greening                        Old Wells Street Bridge 

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Strongman Competition               TBD

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Music, Food and Fun                 Wells Street Corridor 

1:00 p.m Gold Coin Hunt                                                Wells Street Corridor

2:00 p.m. Lucky Charms Eating Contest                        Wells Street Corridor

6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Live Music and Food (18 and older) 

8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Vendor Booths                            Wells Street Corridor