Blues Stanley Cup parade live blog

The St. Louis Blues are celebrating their first the Stanley Cup with a parade in downtown St. Louis on Saturday.
NHL.com writers Louie Korac and Tracey Myers are there and will provide highlights and images throughout the day.

Laila gets ride of a lifetime

Laila Anderson was all smiles as she and her family rode in the celebration parade.
"To watch the St. Louis Blues [have a parade] is enough for me," she said during the ride. "But for them to want me here is surreal."
Anderson, an 11-year-old fan who has a rare disease called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and became an inspiration to the team, waved and threw "Swab for Laila" bracelets into the crowd. Fans chanted "Laila! Laila!" as she went by.
-Tracey Myers

The parade started at 18th and Market Street and will end at Broadway and Market Street. A rally will follow at the Gateway Arch.

The Blues Special Hockey team, celebrating its 25th season, will be part of the parade today.

The Funky Butt Brass Band, from St. Louis, gathering pre-parade. They'll be in the first part of the parade today.

Shannon Ceriotti from St. Louis, celebrating her 26th birthday.

Vince Dunn decides to be a man of the people. He's slapping hands and enjoying all of it.

Craig Berube would get votes.

Fans hanging out of the parking garage on Walnut Street.

The crowd gathering at the Arch.

Bernie Federko addresses the crowd at the rally at the Arch.

The Blues take the stage at their rally at the Arch.