VETERANS DAY PARADE, RCCR 5K TO FILL CHARLESTON TOMORROW MORNING

Charleston’s annual Veterans Day Parade, organized by John Brawley American Legion Post 20, will pay tribute to America’s veterans and fill downtown Charleston with marching, music and more tomorrow morning (Saturday, November 10), starting at 10 a.m.  Following the parade, a 5K to benefit RCCR (Religious Coalition for Community Renewal) will also have an impact on traffic on Kanawha Boulevard between the State Capitol and Capitol Street downtown.

The Veterans parade will stage on Kanawha Boulevard and start at 10 a.m. heading north on Capitol Street before turning west on Quarrier Street through downtown and past the Charleston Town Center.  After turning left on Clendenin, the parade will turn left onto Kanawha Boulevard before disbanding.  Organizers are encouraging people to line Quarrier Street to demonstrate their support for veterans who have served our nation and then head toward Haddad Park for the ceremony, which will begin around 11 a.m., depending on how long the parade takes to complete its route.

In preparation for the event, Kanawha Boulevard will be closed at 8 a.m. between Brooks and Clendenin streets and will remain closed through the end of the ceremony in Haddad Park.  Once the parade begins at 10 o’clock, traffic will be restricted along the parade route and throughout downtown, especially on Quarrier Street and side streets, and it will be difficult to get into or out of the downtown area.  Police officers will be stationed at several intersections to allow some traffic through during breaks in the parade (if possible), but drivers may be stopped for a long time and should expect delays. 

At noon, the RCCR’s “Bean Dinner Classic” 5K run and walk will start in front of the State Capitol and head west on Kanawha Boulevard to downtown before doubling back.  In preparation for that event, Kanawha Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic from California Avenue, east of the State Capitol, through downtown. 

After 11 a.m., westbound traffic on Kanawha Boulevard will be detoured at California Avenue.  People trying to drive through town should consider using I-64, MacCorkle Avenue, Lee Street and Washington Street.  Virginia Street also promises to back up once the parade reaches Clendenin Street, so drivers from I-64 from the west should exit at Lee Street instead to avoid potentially long delays getting into town as well.  People coming into downtown across the South Side Bridge also should expect traffic restrictions and delays in town after the parade begins at 10 a.m.  Kanawha Boulevard will be reopened Saturday afternoon once the street is cleaned up following the completion of both events.