The sun came out after a long cold winter for St. Patrick's Day in Northeast Portland. It shined in the Alameda-Irvington neighborhood on the annual parade Sunday, now in its 30th year.
And it shined especially brightly on the man who created the parade, Steve Slavik.
Slavik is of Czech descent, but on this day, he becomes Steve O'Slavik.
"My father-in-law, Tom Healy, a good Irishman, gave me approval for that. Just one day a year on Saint Patrick's Day," said Steve.
Steve started the parade on a whim to impress Healy who was visiting from Michigan. He didn't think his new son-in-law could throw a big Irish party.
Steve did better than a mere party and created the parade instead; a small affair in the beginning with one float and more people in the parade than watching.
"It started out modest and wow, it's become a very nice event. What's great about the parade is people want to be a part of it. They want to enjoy a great day with their family and friends. It's just gotten bigger and bigger," Steve said.
Three decades later, it's grown to include marching bands, the Royal Rosarians and drum line, Irish Wolf Hounds, Portland Fire Station Engine Company 13, bagpipers, the Highland Guard, mascots, and a couple of dozen neighborhood entries of floats and decorated trucks.
For Steve Slavik or "Coach Steve" as he's known around town for his decades of coaching various sports, it's a wonderful life, indeed.
"It's A Wonderful Life. That's my favorite movie," said Steve.
"This year after everything that's happened, I am the luckiest guy in the whole world. I am George Bailey. Yes, bells are ringing."
Like George Bailey, Steve feels grateful for family and friends who helped him through a difficult year.
Days after last year's parade, he was diagnosed with leukemia. He went through two rounds of chemotherapy, then in August, he had a stem cell transplant at OHSU.
For a time, no one was sure there would be a St. Patrick's Day parade this year.
But in February, doctors told Steve and his wife, Julie, the stem cell transplant had worked. Steve was cancer-free.
"It's almost a miraculous recovery. We have had so much support. The community, just everyone," Julie said.
Julie said they can't thank the community enough for all their support. They sent cards and letters, prayed for them, made meals for them, and did their yard work.
"It's one of those experiences that makes you realize how lucky you are that people care so much and give so much. It has been an amazing event in our lives. I don't have words," she said.
Steve and Julie saw this year's parade as a thank you to everyone who rallied around them.
All of their children and grandchildren and family from around the country came to Portland for this year's parade.
And the hundreds of people who attended the parade wanted to thank Steve and Julie, too.
"He's given so much to the community. This parade. We've been coming since our twins were two. Now, they're 21. Steve has coached every level of baseball, basketball, you name it. Steve Slavik is pretty important to us," said Pat Laskowski, as he put the finishing touches on his family's parade entry.
Another parade-goer, Bill Oliver, has watched the parade for 30 years.
He said his family wants to thank Steve Slavik for what he has done for the community.
"The neighborhood is united. We share this together. Not so much a cultural thing, just all the things that tie us together. Steve is to thank for that."
And Steve's next-door neighbor, Bob Freelander, who also has a float in the parade, beamed with enthusiasm at the parade's conclusion.
"This is 30 years in the making. It's the most incredible parade ever. We are so happy for Steve."
And Steve and Julie feel pretty happy, too. And grateful.
"People have just come forward to help and offer support. It is a wonderful life. It really is. We both feel that way," said Julie.
"Aw, George Bailey thought he had it good. I got it better," said Steve.
Like George Bailey, whose friends made him the richest man in town, Steve Slavik feels his parade of friends and family have made him the luckiest.
Videography by Kurt Austin