For the first time in 23 years, the Star City Holiday Parade was cancelled Saturday, due to the winter ice storm.

The streets of downtown Lincoln were set to be filled with floats, bands and holiday cheer for the 23rd Annual Star City Holiday Parade.

Instead, a layer of ice filled the streets and sidewalks, cancelling the parade for the first time in its history.

"We said all along it would have to be about public safety, and it was. It just came down to the fact that we knew people wouldn't be safe coming down to the parade," said Deb Johnson, Lincoln Updowntowners.

The parade attracts nearly 85,000 people to downtown Lincoln each December, making it the largest parade of its kind in the five-state area.

"The parade has had all sorts of weather. We've had rain. We've had sleet. We've had snow. We've had beautiful sunny days," said Johnson.

But, Old Man Winter's blast of freezing rain meant this year's show couldn't go on.

"I think we've been lucky for 23 years. I think our number was up. I'm surprised we haven't had it cancelled two or three times over this course of time. It happens. It's Nebraska, and it's december," said Jerry Berggren of Lincoln.

Once the ice melts, organizers hope Santa will still be able to ring in the holiday spirit.

"It's going to take a lot for all of this to come together, but we want to see the 23rd Annual Star City Holiday Parade," said Johnson.

Parade organizers will spend the weekend looking for places to store the floats. In the meantime, they'll also be visiting with bands from around the state, as well as volunteers, sponsors and the city, to see if it's possible to hold the parade next Saturday. They hope to have their final decision on Monday.