Crowds filled downtown Saturday near Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park for a day of beads, bands and Irish spirit ahead of St. Patrick\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Downtown Tampa was much greener and louder than usual Saturday as thousands gathered for the 31st annual Rough Riders St. Patrick\u2019s Parade<\/a> near Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, celebrating the holiday with floats, beads and live performances ahead of St. Patrick\u2019s Day on Tuesday.<\/p>\n The parade kicked off with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor throwing beads to the crowd, joined by dozens of first responders from the Tampa Police Department and the Tampa Fire Department. It was all hosted by the U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment the\u00a0Rough Riders<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tampa Bay-area families and visitors lined the streets, many dressed in green, gathering beads and enjoying a sunny afternoon. For some attendees, heritage mattered less than the festive atmosphere.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you Irish?\u201d 10 Tampa Bay News reporter Annie Krall asked Plant City native Angel Howard.<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all,\u201d Howard said.<\/p>\n \u201cDoes that matter?\u201d Krall asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all,” Howard responded.<\/p>\n Transplants who used to live in Canada said the weather made the celebration even more appealing.<\/p>\n \u201cHow is it different? Compare Toronto to here, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day,\u201d Krall asked Trudy Hunter walking in the parade.<\/p>\n \u201cThe big bright thing in the sky, warm, fantastic, no snow,” Hunter, who now calls St. Petersburg home, said. “The only thing I ever want to shovel again from now on is sand.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Others highlighted the comfort of celebrating outdoors without winter conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don’t have to bundle up. We can wear our shorts and T-shirts. We don’t have to worry about cold. It’s not raining. We’re right here in the shade. You get to watch bands from all over. I have a girlfriend who is on one of the floats. You get to watch bands. You get to watch the dancers. So there is a variety of different things you get to see,\u201d Crystal Christensen said alongside her husband and two children on the parade route.<\/p>\n Members of various Tampa Krewes tossed signature beads into the crowd, often choosing recipients carefully.<\/p>\n