Cold and rainy weather didn’t keep thousands of celebrators from attending Chicago's annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday.
Festivities began when Chicago Journeymen Plumbers dyed the Chicago River green, continuing a tradition that’s lasted for more than 40 years.
The parade followed the river dying and stepped off around noon.
Among the slough of celebrators to attend the annual parade was Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Governor Pat Quinn, Senator Dick Durbin and Olympic Gold Medalist Conor Dwyer.
“We are a city of big shoulders, but it was built on the shoulders of immigrants,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “This is a great tradition about who we are as a city.”
Chicago’s parade is one of the largest in the nation and marks St. Patrick’s Day a pinnacle holiday for the city.
“We are the best. I guess we are the green standard when it comes the St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” Quinn said. “There’s nobody who does it better.”
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Although the festivities make Chicago a hot spot for holiday celebrators, this year’s weather was anything but warm compared to last year’s summer-like temps.
“It’s freezing this year,” said parade-goer Samantha Mason.
But the weather didn’t appear to change the amount of celebration this year.
“Everybody is like crazy, we love it,” said parade-goer Ashley Bayer. “It’s just like insane what everyone’s wearing and everyone’s just having fun.”
Some partiers embraced the warm weather by layering up tons of St. Patrick’s Day attire.
Brenda Lee Wood said she’s been collecting her Irish wardrobe for years, and was wearing one piece that was over 20 years old.
