FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): The St. Mary’s River in Fort Wayne was turned green over the weekend.

The 17th Annual “Get Green” Festival happened downtown Saturday, as the city got an early start to St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) by dumping 50 gallons of vegetable dye in the water. Fort Wayne’s been holding the event every year since 1999, according to our Partners in News at 21Alive, after they were inspired by a similar event in Chicago.

It’s held by the Fort Wayne Professional Firefighters Association to raise money for a number of area non-profits, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Hoosier Burn Camp, and Fort Wayne Ribbon Chicks.