John Exadaktilos, owner of Ducktown Tavern, uses an air gun to hand out shirts as people celebrate St. Patricks Day in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade, due to the coronavirus scare, but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Even though Atlantic City canceled its 34th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade due to the coronavirus pandemic, bars close to the boardwalk were full of revelers dressed in green still wanting to celebrate Saturday afternoon.

"It's a little ridiculous that we're gonna stop living our lives over a virus like healthy people like her and I can survive," said Egg Harbor Township resident Austin Steck, who was celebrating a combined bachelor bachelorette party at Bourre with his soon-to-be wife Shannon Russell.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday that the spread of coronavirus in the state has prompted him to recommend the cancellation of all public gatherings of more than 250 people, forcing organizers to forgo the parade this year.

But that didn't stop the thousands of people from flooding the boardwalk and drinking establishments to the delight of business owners who were unsure of what to expect.

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Wayne Heaton, of Brigantine, enjoys the festivities at the Irish Pub in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The Irish Pub -- a staple in the city and a must stop before, during and after the parade -- was alive with patrons as they cheered everyone that entered the bar.

"The human spirit is they want to go out, they want to have a good time, they want to think positively," said Cathy Burke, who has owned the Irish Pub for 48 years.

Sitting comfortably at the bar Tabitha Brown, of Pitman, sipped on a beer as she talked with her husband Tom. Tabitha, a loyal Irish Pub supporter, said she was not afraid of contracting the virus, adding that she applies hand sanitizer every 20 minutes.

Not far from the Irish Pub, the outside beer yard at the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall was full as people soaked up the warm afternoon March sun. Talk of the virus was at a minimum as most folks just wanted to escape the drama of the news and focus on what was in front of them, good music and friends.

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People enjoy the festivities at the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall co-owner Scott Cronick said that at one point during the afternoon it was so busy it was difficult maneuvering through the crowd in the yard and that the inside bar was five people deep.

"We ended up hitting last year's number by four o'clock," he said. "Without a parade with the coronavirus happening."

Cronick has his own ideas on why it was so busy with all that is happening in the world.

"I think that there's a combination that the people that are here are younger, they know that they're a little more resilient to the virus." he said. "Also, maybe it's just anti-establishment, we're not going to let the government tell us where we can go and what we can do."

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A group of people wear masks as they party at Ducktown Tavern in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade, due to the coronavirus scare, but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

About a mile down Atlantic Avenue, the fenced off parking lot behind Ducktown Tavern was jam-packed with a younger crowd.

A group dressed in white Tyvek suits with masks over their nose and mouth, a spoof on the coronavirus pandemic, posed for pictures as they made their rounds around the outside bar.

Ducktown Tavern owner John Exadaktilos smiled as he looked over the crowd while standing atop a storage container shooting T-shirts from an air gun, but understood the concern that some people had.

"Be responsible for your own health, your own well being," he said. "No reason to hurt anybody else because you want to be selfish and go out and possibly miss St. Patrick's Day."

Not missing the festivities was Atlantic City Council President George Tibbett who grabbed a bite to eat at the Irish Pub. He said he wasn't going to stop his everyday events but added that everyone still needs to be cautious.

"Be safe, wash your hands, have a good time and go home."

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John Durham, of Eatontown, dressed like as a Good Luck Care Bear, relaxes by the Irish Pub in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Saturday's activities went against overwhelming advice from federal and state health officials along with the CDC who are urging "social distancing" to help contain the spread of the virus. Major sporting events, schools, cultural institutions and tourist attractions have been shut down to keep people at home.

Sunday morning Gov. Phil Murphy announced that New Jerseyans can expect "more draconian measures" in the coming days and weeks and that people should look to Hoboken and Teaneck, where curfews and calls by local officials to self-quarantine have been put in place.

Scroll below to see more pictures of St. Patrick's Day festivities in Atlantic City.

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Austin Steck, left, and Shannon Russell, right, both from Egg Harbor Township, celebrate their combined bachelor and bachelorette party at Bourre in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Douglas Harmon, of Pleasantville, waves to friends as he celebrates St. Patricks Day at Ducktown Tavern in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade, due to the coronavirus scare, but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Michael Dominic, of Long Branch, dances to Irish Music before walking the boardwalk in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Ben Garfinkel, of Mays Landing, has a drink at the Bourre in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People enjoy the festivities at the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People enjoy the festivities at Ducktown Tavern in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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A group of people enjoy a drink at the Irish Pub in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People celebrate St. Patricks Day at Ducktown Tavern in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade, due to the coronavirus scare, but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Tabitha Brown and her husband Tom, of Pitman, enjoys the festivities at the Irish Pub in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Atlantic City celebrates St. Patricks Day despite its parade being canceled, Saturday, March 14, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Atlantic City celebrates St. Patricks Day despite its parade being canceled, Saturday, March 14, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People enjoy the festivities at the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Atlantic City celebrates St. Patricks Day despite its parade being canceled, Saturday, March 14, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Atlantic City celebrates St. Patricks Day despite its parade being canceled, Saturday, March 14, 2020.

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People celebrate St. Patricks Day at Ducktown Tavern in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade, due to the coronavirus scare, but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Atlantic City celebrates St. Patricks Day despite its parade being canceled, Saturday, March 14, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Glenn Roberts performs at the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The city canceled its parade but people still came out to celebrate. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Tim on Instagram@photog_hawk and Twitter @photogthawk. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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