Metro

Pint-sized piglet

This little “pig’’lechaun went to market and is ready to toast St. Patrick’s Day.

The cuddly British micro-piggy sported a green hat and was in hog heaven pushing a shopping cart with a pint of Guinness.

In the Big Apple today, huge crowds of Irish Americans and Irish wannabes will head to Fifth Avenue for the 252nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

St. Patrick’s Day is actually tomorrow, but when the holiday falls on a Sunday, the parade is held on Saturday because of religious observances. It begins at 11 a.m. on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street, goes past St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and ends at 79th Street.

Be sure to bring a green umbrella.

“It will be cloudy, chilly, a little bit of rain, maybe some wet snowflakes thrown in,’’ AccuWeather.com meteorologist Tom Kines said yesterday.

The temperature during the parade is expected to top out at 39 degrees.

Irish eyes are guaranteed to be smiling despite the damp.

“It’s Irish weather,’’ retired FDNY firefighter Charlie Roberts said yesterday. “It’s a bit of home bringing us good luck.’’

Roberts, 54, who said he’ll be marching in uniform today, said he remembers it poured one year, and “no one cared.’’

If you’re donning emerald sunglasses or painting shamrocks on your cheeks, don’t even think about having green brewskis, or any kind of booze while watching the marchers pass by. But be good or be gone: Cops will be handing out summonses for public alcohol and open containers.

This year’s grand marshal is Alfred Smith IV, whose great-grandfather “Al” Smith was governor of New York four times and also ran for president.