The sound of bag pipes blazed through the air today during the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown South Bend.

Kids, parents and families lined up to see the many different floats and characters along the way.

Although it was chilly outside, the cold weather didn't seem to bother anybody.

Horses, bands, dancers and eye-catching floats were all part of the celebration.

And of course, nobody wanted to miss the river turning green.

For some, watching the festivities is a yearly tradition of enjoying the sights and the fun.

“Every year I think we look forward to all the people being down here in downtown South Bend. That's the best part about it, I think. We get to put on all our green beads, silly and fun,” said Brian and Trish O’Rourke who attended the parade.

Sheri Miller Story participated in the parade and enjoyed the event, “The river was awesome, it was great to see them turning it green. I think this event is going to continue to grow as more people get excited and energized. South Bend is great place to celebrate Irish culture and heritage.”