Bagpipers piped, a woman dressed as a chicken bounded around urging parade watchers to buy local, McGruff the crime dog greeted children, the Junkyard Jazz band belted out tunes from the trailer of a truck, hula hoopers marched and hopped, a leprechaun waved to the crowd from inside a 10-foot pot of gold and a group of shipwrecked castaways from the S.S. Minnow did the Harlem Shake.

Despite the cold and a wee bit of rain, the 26th annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day parade sailed through downtown Lawrence on Sunday with its usual display of unusual floats.

With interest high for all the interesting creatures and float creations — more than 100 total — parade watchers arrived early. An hour before the 1:30 p.m. parade start, open space downtown was scarce.

“We wanted to get a good spot,” said Jen Taylor, who brought along her three corgis, adorned in Irish-themed handkerchiefs. The corgis didn’t seem to mind the cold or the crowds.

“They think it’s quite amazing,” Taylor said.

Basehor resident Lisa Smith, and her daughter, Kayla, laid claim to a cement slab at the corner of Seventh and Massachusetts streets two and a half hours before the parade. The floats are great, Lisa said, but she was more interested in getting an up-close look at local characters.

“It’s good people watching,” she said.

Nearly $75,000 was raised for local charities during the lead-up to the parade. This year, proceeds will go to the Lawrence Arts Center’s scholarship fund, the Ballard Community Center and the County Fair Swim Club.