Gwinnett Daily Post

Staff Photo: John Bohn Dressed and decorated for St. Patrick's Day, while attending the Spring Green Festival concert held in downtown Lawrenceville on Staturday evening are, from left to right, Lyla Previto, 2, Harper Craft, 11 months, Landon Previto, 6, and Stella Grace Previto, 3, all of Lawrenceville.

LAWRENCEVILLE -- She started with a green shirt, a hand-me-down from her sister, and a denim skirt.

Then, Aliyah Austin found some shamrock leggings in the basement.

In the closet, her father Jermaine found a green lei from a birthday party with a luau theme.

And the accessories kepts coming -- earrings, a bow, a bracelet, all green to make sure the 8-year-old didn't get pinched on St. Patrick's Day.

"I try to get into the holidays, dressing up, anything with the kids and family," Aliya's mom, Akema said, as the family enjoyed the sunshine and festivities at the Spring Green celebration in downtown Lawrenceville.

Marking Saturday's holiday, the square was a sea of green -- green T-shirts and hats, green face paint and antenna headbands, even green hair.

Katina James sported the electric wig, a St. Patrick's Day tradition from her days living in Savannah, the Georgia town famous for its celebration.

"The parking is definitely a lot better," here, she said, although the thousands that visited Lawrenceville had to circle the streets to find a space. "And it's a lot more vendors here," she said.

"In Savannah, it's a lot more about drinking, but it's a lot of fun here," James added.

After taking their 4-year-old son through the family-friendly festival, Anna and Ed Pueschel waited outside McCray's, a restaurant on the Square, for a late lunch -- and a green beer.

"We thought it was nice out, so we'd check it out," Anna Pueschel said of the event. "We came out and just wanted to enjoy it."

Up the block, Jesse Hachat stood outside his empty storefront, telling people about the new growler store, Exhibit A(le), he hoped to open in about a month.

"I'm just trying to get the word out," he said, passing out stickers and T-shirts and knowing he was missing some business on a holiday known for beer. "It would be awesome if we were open."

The event, in its second year, began with a race, but the rain kept the crowds light. By the time the clouds cleared out just after noon, locals filled the lawn, talking to people peddling everything from art to insurance.

One company even took the green theme a step forward, raffling off a green Smart Car.

After the festival, the lawn filled again for a concert, where people relaxed, relishing the last moments of the holiday and enjoying the beginning of spring.