The 31st annual Trenton St. Patrick's day parade was held Sunday March 13 at 2 p.m. despite the rain.
TRENTON - The Trenton St. Patrick's Day Parade continued its 31-year tradition Sunday despite competition, financial issues and rain as the bagpipes played and the people marched on.
Both Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson and County Executive Brian Hughes said during opening ceremonies that they were happy to be at Trenton's "original" parade.
The comment was a jab at competitor The Original St. Patrick's Day Parade at Hamilton held Saturday - the date Trenton originally set aside for their parade.
St. Patrick's Day Parade at Hamilton (PHOTOS)
"This is a great parade for a great city and a great county," Hughes said in front of Saint Anthony Catholic Church on South Olden Avenue, where opening ceremonies were held.
Jackson told Former Trenton Fire Chief and Chairman of the Trenton Irish Heritage Association Dennis Keenan to "keep doing this great, original parade."
Trenton resident Kyri Arce said she and 7-year-old daughter Isis were most excited to see the various floats together.
"This is actually my first year here because I'm usually working," Arce said.
Arce said she is happy to be at the parade for the first time with her daughter who has gone almost every year since she was born, despite her mother not being able to make it.
Husband of Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Mercer) - who was also at the parade - said he particularly likes the "vibe" at Trenton's parade.
"Everybody's excited," Michael Greenstein said. "Take a look around at the diversity. You can probably count the amount of Irish people on one hand. That's really America at its finest contrary to the Donald Trump rhetoric."
Spokesman for the parade's committee Jeff Solimando said they were fortunate that everything worked out to allow the parade to go on this year.
After losing money from The Mercer Irish Fest in September, the committee had to raise $10,000 to put the parade on - brought in from fundraising efforts and an ad campaign.
Solimando said the 31st annual parade was a special one.
"We're honoring our parade founder Desmond Murphy who passed away last April," Solimando said. "He's like a second father to me. We just hope he is looking down on us today."
A Trenton tavern owner, Murphy founded the parade in 1985 along with three other local residents, The Trenton St. Patrick's Day Parade website states.
Solimando said Murphy's wife and daughter walked in the parade Sunday to honor the founder.
Also honored was the grand marshal - the entire Trenton Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) Division 10, an organization promoting and educating on Irish heritage - and Miss St. Patrick of 2016 - Keenan's granddaughter Cayleigh Rose Keenan.
After the opening ceremonies at 1:30 p.m., the parade commenced on South Olden Avenue at 2 p.m., turned on Hamilton Avenue and ended on Chestnut Avenue.
An after party was held with Irish band The Fighting Jamesons headlining.
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.