SYRACUSE, N.Y. — With March right around the corner, that means it was time for the annual Green Beer Sunday celebration on Syracuse's Tipperary Hill.

A large crowd came out for the decades-old tradition at Coleman's Pub.

The event has become known as the unofficial kickoff to the St. Patrick's Day season, and been around since the early 1960s.

Besides the popular green beer brought in on a tanker truck, people enjoyed the parade, which began at the green-on-top traffic light and ended at the pub.

It featured traditional bag pipes, Irish dancers and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh.

Although heavy in tradition, there was a new addition to this year's event: green hard cider by 1911, from Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette.

St. Patrick's Day is officially on Saturday, March 17, which is also the same day as the annual Syracuse St. Patrick's Parade.