COEUR d'ALENE — Mother Nature had one too many Irish stouts.

A Saturday that started with sunshine soon shifted to a torrential downpour, the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade getting the wet end of the deal.

The myriad floats, bagpipers and others who marched down Sherman Avenue in front of hundreds of umbrella-shielded onlookers didn't seem to mind.

Jessica Bryant, a pipe major for the Coeur d'Alene Firefighters Pipes and Drums, said she has worn a kilt in nastier conditions.

"”I grew up in Minnesota. I've played in 20 below,” said Bryant, a music instructor. “That's a whole new level of misery and pain. I knew this rain was coming."

Bryant is part of a group of 12 musicians that feature four fire department employees. It was at the front of the relatively quick parade which strolled through downtown in about 30 minutes.

Creativity was evident with this year's floats. One featured a very detailed replica of an Irish village and another, courtesy of the Snake Pit Derby Dames roller derby team, had a giant green and black rollerskate.

There were girls on horseback and a fleet of green vehicles with green lights. A wagon full of singing, green-clad schoolchildren could also be seen.

Naturally, the Blazen Divas, known in Coeur d'Alene for dancing and parading at popular events, powered through the rain,

Nearly 50 Diva members marched, wearing as big a grins as they would if the sun was shining.

Rain-soaked members Judy Wiley, Sandy Steier and Sheila Mack — sporting green lights, green hats, green glasses and every Irish-themed accessory imaginable — had fun.

“The parade was nice and fast,” Wiley said.

“And nobody slipped and fell," Mack chimed in.