Mayor Greg Ballard and Hoosier Lottery Director Kathryn Densborn pour green dye into the downtown canal.
(Photo: Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development)

It's St. Patrick's Day and time for the annual "greening of the canal."

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and others poured green dye into the canal at Ohio and West Streets to kick off a full day of festivities downtown.

John Bartholomew with the Department of Metropolitan Development says the dye is environmentally-friendly and will not harm plants or fish in the water. He says the dye lasts about a week and then dissipates into the White River.