NORTH MYRTLE BEACH -- Thousands came out to the 24th annual North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival Saturday all decked out in green.

The parade went from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the beautiful weather brought out a large crowd.

Many smiling faces enjoyed the live music, bag pipes and candy that many on floats tossed to the crowd.

"The bag pipes are my favorite and this crowd is unbelievable," says Joan Powers from Upstate New York. She comes down to North Myrtle Beach for a few months in the winter and has been coming to the North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick's Day parade for 8 years.

NewsChannel 15's Tim McGinnis, Allyson Floyd and Ed Piotrowski emceed the event.

The following awards were given following the parade:

Non Profits:

OD Shag Club

NMB Women’s Club

Omar Keystone Cops

Business:

Wells Fargo

Freedom Boat Club

Kokopelli Surf Camp

Marching Units:

NY Shields Pipes and Drums

NMB High School Marching Band

NMB Performing Arts

Honorable Mentions:

Tripple Toe Cloggers

Pickens Fine Arts

Wyndam Resorts

Ancient Order of Hibernians
Rolling Thunder