For the crowd, the focus was the famous visitors. For the organizers, the focus was everything else.
Thousands of people poured into downtown Scranton Saturday for "The Office" Wrap Party. They waved, snapped photos and cheered any reference their favorite characters made to the Electric City. Throughout the day, crews from NBC filmed every inch of the Wrap Party for a one-hour special, which will air before the series finale on May 16.
One of the biggest names downtown Saturday, John Krasinski, who plays Jim on the show, was one of the main proponents of holding the one-day event, said Timothy L. Holmes, regional director of marketing and events for Times-Shamrock Communications, one of the event organizers.
The idea for the event originated when the cast descended on Scranton for the highly successful "Office Convention" in 2007. Two and a half years ago, Mr. Holmes visited the set and reminded Mr. Krasinski of the idea. That started the ball rolling.
Since the event was announced a month ago, volunteers have been hard at work coordinating the schedules of dozens of actors, writers and other show personnel.
Mr. Holmes said the most difficult part was simply finding time to attend to every detail, including staying up until nearly 4 a.m. Saturday editing questions for a Behind the Scenes Q&A panel at 11 a.m.
There were some hiccups in the "very specific itinerary," he added, like a missed flight that delayed several cast members from arriving in time for a VIP reception Friday.
In that case, Mr. Holmes said the group worked around issues and "freestyled."
A few cast members, including Ellie Kemper, who plays Erin, decided to go for an impromptu trolley ride shortly before the parade, Mr. Holmes said, another detail to "freestyle" around.
Acting Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano, said more than 10,000 people filled the city for Saturday's parade down Linden Street.
North Washington Avenue between Linden and Spruce streets will remain closed until today, when the grandstand can be taken down. Chief Graziano said the police force was well prepared for the evening, with 16 extra officers in place.
The organizers paid the cost of the extra officers, he added.
Security was also doubled at PNC Field. Traffic on Montage Mountain road swelled about 4 p.m. because of the 20,000 going to the nearby Dirty Girl Mud Run, but authorities said it had subsided by the time Wrap Party guests started arriving.
Mr. Holmes said the cast made it all possible.
"The cast all came for free," he said. "That's why we were selling tickets for $7."
Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter