The streets of Denver’s Lower Downtown were flooded green with decorations and costumes Saturday for the city’s 63rd annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

In brisk weather in the mid 30s, thousands of people lined Blake Street between 19th and 27th streets, to get a glimpse at the over 100 floats, businesses and local agencies participating in the three-hour-long celebration of Irish heritage.

Green and orange beads, candy and cheers were tossed all around.

The parade, hosted by the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee for 63 years, started at the corner of 19th and Wynkoop streets before turning left on 17th Street around 9:30 a.m. It then traveled to Blake Street and marched all the way to 27th Street before ending at the north Coors Field parking lot.

The event is the longest St. Patrick’s Day parade west of the Mississippi River, according to the committee. It usually involves more than 10,000 marchers and 200 entrants — from police departments to marching bands and breweries.

This year’s parade was sponsored by Bellco Credit Union. The credit union has sponsored the event for 17 years and provides over 300 volunteers to help make the parade special.

Abby Hosterman, a Philadelphia native who moved to Denver in 2019, was at the parade for the first time with her two children and friends. The children were excited to see the marching bands and colorful floats and the potential of some free candy.

“It’s great in Denver. I love Denver,” Hosterman said when comparing downtown parades and festivals to the ones back home. “I live in Denver now, not Philly, so I love everything here.”

Alex Woodcock, a native of England who has lived in Denver for over 10 years, had family visiting from overseas, excited to see the parade.

“We don’t really do parades unless it’s something royal,” Woodcock said of parades in England. “It’s always bigger and better in America.”

Woodcock added that St. Patrick’s Day is more so celebrated in Ireland, but not much in England.

The family was waiting to see what America’s spin on the holiday was all about.

And with the blast of colors and music, they were in for a pleasant surprise despite the chilly temperatures.

The parade is only the start of the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, though, with a plethora of other events happening around the city until the official holiday on Monday.

All events can be found here.