A little drizzle, a chill in the air and a brisk wind â€" along with a lot of jovial people â€" described Rochester's annual St. Patrick's Day celebration on Saturday.
Thousands of people lined downtown streets as the route formed along East Avenue near Alexander Street, then proceeded along East to Main Street and west to Plymouth Avenue.
A week before the pubs lining these streets become awash in orange-wearing Syracuse University basketball fans, another color took center stage Saturday.
Whether it was lime, forest, shamrock, hunter, neon or chartreuse, attendees showed off their bowties, glasses, headgear, gloves, sashes, beads, sweatshirts and even a Kermit the Frog umbrella.
The temperature hovered in the low 30s as rain pelted parade participants and onlookers, who stood hours in the conditions and casually talked, comparing the weather of previous celebrations.
However, Kris Wilson, who just spent her first winter in the area after moving north, had nothing to compare this experience with. She stood underneath an overhang around Main and State streets shivering and clutching a cup of hot chocolate in her left hand â€" and loving every minute of it.
"We didn't have a St. Patrick's Day parade where I lived in Florida, so seeing something like this is incredible," said Wilson, of Henrietta.
"It's great seeing all the dancers and listening to the music."
Others looking for cover included Lisa Acton, who was able to watch the parade inside an open lobby near Fitzhugh and Main streets. She said she wasn't surprised that people come out no matter what the conditions are.
"This is definitely one of the coldest years ever," added Acton.
"But it's a wonderful time. You see families come together into the city and stay for the whole thing."
The parade featured bagpipers, marching bands, color guard units, Irish dancers and fire and police units.
Mya Samuels, 4, had to wait an hour before the parade reached her, but that didn't keep her from bouncing up and down in anticipation.
"I like the drums, dancing and candy," she said.
Debbie Samuels has brought Mya to the parade the last three years and she said even the cold wasn't going to keep her away this year.
"Events like this just show pride in our city and shows what Rochester is all about," said Samuels, of Rochester.
For those who just couldn't stand hours of rain on their parade, a Celtic Family Faire at the Radisson Hotel Rochester Riverside, 120 E. Main St., offered a solution.
The event featured children's games, a magician, more Irish dancers, clowns, a cupcake station and an opportunity to run and jump around.
All funds from the Celtic celebration were to be donated to Camp Good Days and Special Times.
"We wanted to offer families a safe and fun environment to have a good time," said Richard Bair, general manager at the Radisson.
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