WHERE THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES ALL WEEKEND. DOWNTOWN DES MOINES IS THE PLACE TO BE TODAY. THE NIGHT ENDS IN COWLES COMMONS -- WITH AN NCAA WATCH PARTY. .. BUT THE FUN STARTED HOURS BEFORE - - WITH A VERY MISSED SAINT PATRICK'S DAY TRADITION. <NAT: 1338; 9:23:49- 9:23:51 CLOGGI> NG FROM FANCY FOOTWORK- <NAT: ANYTHING CAR WISE> TO SW LOTURNING WHEELS-- DOWNTOWN DES MOINES WAS THE BUSTLING PLACE TO BE THURSDAY-- STARTING WITH THE ANNUAL SAINT PATRICK'S DAY PARADE HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019. <1337; 9:21:38-9:21:45> <"WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED TO HAVE EVERYBODY BACK DN OW AGAIN. IT'S GREAT TO SEE THESE PEOPLE COMING OUT."> COVID DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO CANCEL TS HI YEAR'S PARADE. A SEA OF GREEN HIGHLIGHTED THE PARADE'S ROUTE -- FILLED WITH DANCERS - CARS - AND EVERYTHING IN BETWN. EE IT'S AN ANNUAL TRADITION -- THE FRIENDLY SONS OF T. S PATRICK TEAM WAS HAPPY TO SEE. <1337; 9:20:32-9:20:37> <"WE'RE TRYING TO RAE IS MONEY TO KEEP THE PARADE ALIVE FOR FUTURE YEARS."> AND THIS YEAR - ST . PATRICK'S DAY HAPPENED TO FALL ON THE START OF A LONG- ANTICIPATED MONTH FOR BASKETBA FLLS: <NAT: 9848; 5:46:32- 5:46:34: "GO CYCLONES!"> MARCH MADNESS. FOOD TRUCKS AND THE WELL-KNOWN IOWA CRAFT BEER TENT MADE HOA ME IN COWLES COMMONS THURSDAY. ALL FOR THE ANNUAL HOOPS AND HOPS EVENT -- BRINGING PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STATE TOGETHER. <HANNAH LINDGREN/ MARSHALLTOWN; 9848; 5:46:15-5:46:19> <"BEEN BEST FRIENDS SINCE THIRD GRADE. WE'RE JUST REUNITING THIS YEAR. IT'S BEEN WONDERFU ">L. <JAKE MAZANEC/ MINNEAPOLIS, MN; 9828; 3:59:04-3:59:10> <"JUST SOAKING IT ALL UP AFTER BEING LITTLE BIT COOPED UP FOR A WHILE. IT'S REAL FUN."> HUNDREDS OF OPPELE CAME OUT THROUGHOUT THE DAY- BOTH FOR THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVITIES - <9814; 3:38:45-3:38:49> <"I HAVE IOWA IN MY FINAL FOUR. BUT I ALSOAVE H GONZAGA, ARIZONA, AND PERDUE."> AND FOR A DAY OF BASKETBALL -- NO MATTER THE OUTCOME. HAWKEYE FANS CHEERED ON THE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM THE VERY D.EN <NAT: CROWD> AND EVEN AFTER THE LOSS -- MANY STAYED -- BECAUSE WAS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST BASKETBALL AND BEER. <SYDNIE WOHLERT/DES MOINES; 9848; 5:46:47-5:46:53> <"I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY NICE TO SEE PEOPLE ALL G ET BACK TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY SINCE LIKE COVID AND EVERYTHING> ." AND THE HOOPS AND HOPS FUN CONTINUES! THE DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS I PUTTING ON THE EVENT -- AND IT WILL START UP AGAIN TO MORROW AND ON SATURD