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The city had an international look Thursday night as thousands of people gathered downtown for the annual Grand Slam Parade, welcoming the 16 teams who will compete for the championship in the upcoming Little League Baseball World Series.

Local residents and out-of-town guests alike crowded center city, taking in the sights, sounds and the pins that the World Series brings with it.

"We just traded pins with Japan," Skip Mistretta of South Williamsport said.

Mistretta said he likes to come to the parade to "see the players" and get a head start on the World Series action.

His family arrived at 3:30 p.m. to secure their spot in front of the new movie theater on West Fourth Street, 3 1/2 hours before the start of the 7 p.m. parade.

The grand marshall of this year's parade was 2008 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Rich "Goose" Gossage, a legendary relief pitcher for nine major league teams, including the New York Yankees.

The honorary grand marshall was Gov. Ed Rendell.

Various area fire companies including the Williamsport Bureau of Fire, Old Lycoming Volunteer Fire Co. and Citizen's Fire Co. in South Williamsport participated in the parade, as did several local officials.

Williamsport City Council members; state Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy; and U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock, all made their way down the parade route.

For many spectators, the parade is a reminder of how much the league has grown since it first started in 1939.

Williamsport resident Lois Hoyler, 80, remembers the beginning days of Little League and thinks the organization's transformation into a worldwide youth league is "great."

"It teaches kids a lot of things, like teamwork," she said. "It keeps (children) off the streets."

The families of World Series participants also were in the crowds at the parade, and some said they were blown away by the whole experience.

"It's amazing," said Rochele Miller of Tampa, Fla.

"It's like the Olympics for kids," said her husband, Steve.

The Millers have a son on the Southeast team from Citrus Park Little League in Tampa. Rochele said she wants him to take away a sense of pride from the tournament, whatever the outcome.

"I hope he appreciates what he has accomplished. Win or lose, it doesn't matter," she said.

Though they only arrived in Williamsport Thursday morning, the Millers said they are impressed by the accommodations.

"We like it so far," Steve said. "The facilities and the stadium are great."

Trout Run resident Jan Hawkins said she enjoys coming to the parade and seeing friends and neighbors.

"All the neighborhood is out; it's like a block party," she said.

Hawkins said the World Series brings such a sense of "excitement" because of its enormous magnitude.

"It's the biggest thing we have around here," she said.