SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The parade route is officially set in downtown Syracuse.

Local dignitaries and St. Patrick's parade organizers came together for the annual painting of the green stripe on South Salina Street Friday morning.

Spectrum News was there live as the paint brush was handed from person to person, until the stripe was complete.

The event has turned into the annual kickoff to parade weekend, a tradition that's grown every year since its inception in 1983.

"I can't even begin to tell you how much goes into this.  Little Chilly Today, it's going to be warmer tomorrow and we're going to have a great day,” said Janet Higgins, the Syracuse St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee president.

Organizers had to a little prep work just to pull off the stripe painting Friday morning. Because of all the snowfall, they had to bring out a torch and use it to dry off the street.

Saturday's parade gets underway at 12 p.m.