PORTLAND — The city will celebrate Veterans Day with its traditional Congress Street parade on Friday, Nov. 11.

The holiday will also be observed with a ceremony and luncheon Wednesday, Nov. 9, and Thursday, Nov. 10, respectively.

The parade from Longfellow Square to City Hall begins at 10:30 a.m. Friday, and will be followed by a ceremony outside City Hall at 389 Congress St. The parade is organized by the American Legion Harold T. Andrews Post No. 17.

The parade staging area will be closed from 9 a.m.-noon on these streets:

• Congress Street from Mellen to State streets.

• State Street from Cumberland Avenue to Congress Street.

• Dow Street From Congress to Bracket streets.

The parade route on Congress Street to City Hall will result in these street closures from 10:15 a.m.-noon:

• Congress Street from State to Franklin streets.

• High Street from Spring to Deering streets.

• Forest Avenue from Cumberland Avenue to Congress Street.

• Casco Street from Shepley to Congress streets.

• Center Street from Free to Congress streets.

• Preble Street from Cumberland Avenue to Congress Street.

• Temple Street from Federal to Congress streets.

• Chestnut Street from Cumberland Avenue to Congress Street.

From 10:15 a.m.-1 p.m., the area in front of Robert B. Ganley Plaza outside City Hall will be closed to traffic. This includes Congress Street from Temple to Pearl streets; left turns from Chestnut and Market streets to Congress Street will not be allowed, either.

On Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. there will be an unveiling of the expanded Easter Seals Heroes Wall at DiMillo’s Boardwalk on Long Wharf, off Commercial Street.

The wall is etched with names and images of veterans. Half the proceeds from sales of the etched tiles go to Easter Seals Maine military and veterans services.

At noon on Thursday, U.S. Sen Susan Collins, R-Maine, will be the keynote speaker at the second annual Rotary Club of Portland Veterans Appreciation Lunch at the Italian Heritage Center, 40 Westland Ave.

Juliana L’Heureux of the Rotary Club of Portland said the lunch is free and open to all veterans and their families, but online pre-registration at portlandrotary.org is required.

On Peaks Island, the American Legion Randall MacVane Post No. 142 will host a Veterans Day spaghetti dinner from 5:30-8 p.m. at 142 Welch St. Vegan and gluten-free dishes will also be served. Veterans can eat free. Admission for is others $10, or $5 for senior citizens and children under 12.

The Easter Seals Heroes Wall on Long Wharf in Portland was introduced for Veterans Day a year ago. An expanded wall will be unveiled Wednesday, Nov. 9.

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