Here's what St. Patrick's Day looked like at Waterloo's biggest unsanctioned street party

Thousands of party-goers took to Ezra Avenue in Waterloo to celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Sunday.

CBC Kitchener-Waterloo was there to capture the scene as the unsanctioned party grew throughout the afternoon.

Waterloo Regional Police had an increased presence in the area due to the expected crowds.

Earlier in the morning, barricades were set upat Bricker Avenue and Clayfield Avenue. Some students also started to gather on porches and in front yards, dressed in green.

As the crowd grew, police shut down Ezra Avenue and Bricker Avenue due to concerns for public safety.

The crowd was estimated to be as large as or even larger than in 2018, which saw more than 20,000 people gather on Ezra Avenue.

Police planned to maintain a presence in the area throughout the night and into the early morning, to manage the crowd, ensure public safety and enforce any laws.

A final tally of calls for service, fines and charges is expected in the coming days.