Bill and Hillary Clinton leave a party in honor of Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky Friday, July 30, 2010 in Rhinebeck, N.Y. (AP)

RHINEBECK, New York (AP) — Bill Clinton made a long-anticipated appearance in the upstate New York village where his daughter is getting married, drawing crowds of onlookers Friday afternoon as preparations continued largely out of sight for the grand and secretive occasion.

In the evening, hundreds of people gathered outside the hotel where many of the guests are staying to catch a glimpse of the former president with his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Shortly before 11 p.m. local time, the Clintons exited a van arm-in-arm outside the Beekman Arms Hotel.

The former first lady, in a long, green dress, waved to the cheering crowd waiting behind metal barricades outside and quickly went into the hotel. They left about a half-hour later.

Earlier in the day, Bill Clinton, looking fit and relaxed in blue jeans and a black knit shirt, walked with security a few blocks north from the picturesque village's main intersection to the restaurant Gigi Trattoria.

To questions blurted from the huge crowd he attracted, Clinton rattled off easy answers. How are you? "We're all fine.'' "We love it here,'' he said. "Chelsea loves the area as well.'' How's she doing? "She's doing well.''

Chelsea Clinton is expected to marry her longtime boyfriend, investment banker Marc Mezvinsky, at a ceremony Saturday evening attended by 400 to 500 people at the grand Astor Courts, an estate on the scenic east bank of the Hudson River.

Rumors had abounded for weeks leading up to Friday, including one that Rhinebeck was an elaborate decoy planned by the media-shy Chelsea and that the wedding would be elsewhere.

The appearance of the former president put all the conspiracy talk to rest. And what does he think of his soon-to-be son-in-law? "I like him very much,'' the popular Democrat said, picking up more people with each passing step. "I really do. I admire him. Hillary feels the same way.''

The sight of an ex-president captivated many in the crowd. For the record, Dutchess County, which contains Rhinebeck, voted for Clinton and Al Gore in 1996. After lunch, Clinton slowly wound his way out of a restaurant, taking time to shake hands with the kitchen staff and customers, who took pictures of him with their cell phones. The restaurant's owner said it would be impolite to reveal what he had for lunch.