NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The 34th annual Grand Illumination parade is Saturday and tens of thousands of people are expected to be there.
Crews spent the day on Friday setting up bleachers and barricades for the thousands of people expected to fill the streets of Downtown Norfolk.
The Downtown Norfolk council said it’s a record year for them, with more than 80 groups participating in the parade.
Many of them are from outside the area, including a 230-member high school band from Pennsylvania. The council said this is great for exposure and bringing more people to the area.
Last year, there was an estimated 80,000 people who attended the parade, so safety and security are at the top of the list for an event like this. Event organizers have been meeting monthly with law enforcement to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Norfolk police will have officers on every corner but they are reminding the public to stay vigilant.
“If you see a package that’s unattended, call the police or reach out to one of the volunteers,” said Mary Miller, President and CEO of Downtown Norfolk Council. “If you see something that you don’t feel is right, people need to say something but other than that we’re very confident that everything is in place for us to have a very safe and successful event tomorrow night.”
Plenty of families are expected to be out and Norfolk police is reminding parents to keep tabs on little ones. They are also offering a tip – take photos of your kids before the parade.
If your child gets separated, officers have an up-to-date picture and will know exactly what to look for.
The parade kicks off at 7 p.m. You can find more on hrScene.com
