ST. CHARLES – The streets of downtown St. Charles were flooded with green Saturday afternoon as hundreds of people gathered to watch the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and celebrate Irish heritage.

About 75 entrants passed crowds along Main Street from Sixth Street to Fourth Avenue in the hourlong parade. Many who were gathered prepared the sit in 30-degree temperatures by bringing along blankets, and some brought along umbrellas or rain coats, just in case.

Aside from the occasional flurry of snow, the precipitation held off. Nick and Stephanie Stravropoulos of St. Charles and their two daughters, Tessa, 5, and Lily, 9, braved the cold to carry on the 10-year family tradition of watching the St. Patrick's Parade.