#52 - Going Green: The Story Behind Tampa Bay’s River O’ Green Festival

Every March, something remarkable happens in the heart of downtown Tampa. The Hillsborough River turns green.It's the signature moment of the River O' Green Festival, Tampa Downtown Partnership's beloved St. Patrick's Day celebration that transforms downtown Tampa into a community gathering unlike any other. But how exactly do you turn a river green? And how do you do it safely? That's just one of the fascinating stories behind this year's festival, taking place this Saturday, March 14.In this episode of Unlocking Tampa Bay, hosts Bryan Burns and Molly Barbieri sit down with Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges, President & CEO of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to pull off one of Tampa Bay's most visually stunning and community-driven events. Kenyetta walks us through every layer of what makes River O' Green a Tampa Bay tradition: the logistics of coloring the Hillsborough River, the parade, the pet costume contest, the one-of-a-kind kids’ market, and so much more.  The conversation goes beyond the festival too, as Kenyetta shares her vision for where downtown Tampa is headed in 5-10 years and why the events Tampa Downtown Partnership puts on are about so much more than a good time. River O' Green is this Saturday, March 14 in downtown Tampa. Let this episode be your reason to go.