NEW BERLIN – Despite the constant rain showers plaguing this weekend’s event, hundreds still lined the streets of downtown New Berlin for the 48th annual Saturday Youth Days Parade and carnival in what was one of the wettest celebrations in memory.

“Saturday the community definitely stayed behind us in the rain at the parade. This is some of the worst weather I can remember in the history of the event. It was pretty much a complete wash out,” said New Berlin Youth Days Committee President Larissa Hanslmaier.

Faced with rain showers and a low turnout on Friday’s opening night, organizers decided to move Friday’s free midway carnival rides to include Saturday’s scheduled events from 3 to 5 p.m. in a bid to battle the weather.

Scattered rain showers continued to hamper Saturday’s events and volunteers moved several activities into the sanctuary of the nearby New Berlin Fire Station.

To make matters worse, a torrential downpour engulfed the downtown area in the half hour before the parade was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., drenching the crowd of several hundred that had gathered for the march.

Parade planners announced they had decided to postpone it until nearly 6:30 p.m., telling spectators that they believed the surge in rain would “pass in 10 minutes or so.”