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It may have been gray and drizzly for most of Potomac Day, but at least it didn't rain on the parade.

The drop in attendance was attributed to the overcast sky on Saturday; 2,000 to 3,000 people attended instead of the 4,000 to 6,000 anticipated, according to Adam Greenberg, who heads the Potomac Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event.

It was the first significant rain on Potomac Day in about 12 years, he estimated.

The parade made its way through Potomac Village and whipping winds before the rain started. Many attendees in ponchos fled for cover and some stayed to enjoy live music from under an overhang in the Potomac Promenade shopping center. Others looked for places to sit inside, or simply went home.

"Usually it's packed — you can't find a place to stand," said Potomac resident Harriet Guskin, who watched the parade with her daughter Emily, 25, of Bethesda. "I think the possibility of rain kept people away."

Standing under umbrellas, the Guskins agreed they would stick it out for as long as possible.

"I come every year, so why stop now?" Emily Guskin said.

The business fair ended early because of the high winds, and the displays had no protection from the downpour.

In the Potomac Place shopping center, moon bounces had to be deflated, though pumpkin painting and scarecrow making forged on beneath tents.

Some said the day was still a celebration of Potomac's character. The Potomac Chamber of Commerce named Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless executive director Sharan London as citizen of the year, and Winston Churchill High School Student Government President Meenu Singh as youth of the year. Tennis pro and businessman Donald Dell was announced as the business person of the year, and Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Chief Jim Seavey, recently named volunteer fire chief of the year by Fire Chief Magazine, was the parade's grand marshal.

Proceeds from the day benefitted the Diener School, which caters to students with developmental delays. The school hopes to use the money two buy laptops and software.

"We like feeling like we're part of a village, part of a little town," said Holly Hand, who attended the day with her daughter Piper, 10, and friend, Joanna Kramer, 10.

"I like the horses," Piper Hand said. "And I like that there's so many people you know."

Kramer agreed. "I like how everybody comes together to watch the parade," she said.