The city held its fourth annual St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday.
ASBURY PARK-- It was freezing cold with a potentially massive snowstorm on the way, but thousands of revelers would not be stopped from gathering Sunday for the city's fourth annual St. Patrick's Day parade.
The parade -- which kicked off at 1 p.m. at Ocean and 7th avenues -- was stocked with all the traditional makings of a thrilling St. Patrick's Day celebration: a cheering green, shamrock-wearing crowd; kilt-wearing bagpipers; stilt walkers; an antique fire engine; and performances by the Uptown String Band of Philadelphia and the Joseph A. Ferko String Band.
The crowd was unruffled by the bitterness that no doubt stung ears and hands.
The roaring parade line proceeded down Ocean Avenue to Cookman Avenue, finishing in the Municipal Parking Lot on Main Street.
Michelle Yanstick and Denise Carilli -- Howell residents appropriately dressed in heavy coats, earmuffs, scarves and gloves -- were walking their two dogs, Sadie and Scooby, who were robed in warm harnesses and matching lime-green tutus.
The frigidity continued to prod any bare skin exposed to the elements, but as the parade finished, Yanstick said, "It didn't bother us. We are properly dressed, and so were the dogs."
Amy Robinson, of Neptune, and her two children -- Alex, 8, and Erin, 7, marched in the parade for their first time, and they too were unfazed by the chill.
"Lots of layers," Amy Robinson said. "We had a lot of fun -- it didn't keep us away."
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.