Council members on Oct. 2 received a detailed update on plans for the city’s Veterans Day parade and several upcoming community events and cultural exhibits.

Colonel Robert Hopkins, parade chairman, told council the parade is scheduled for Nov. 11 with lineup at 10:00 a.m. and step-off at 10:30 a.m. Hopkins said the three local school districts — Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County — committed more than 650 students to participate, including both high school bands, cheer squads, and grade-school contingents. He said 51 fifth graders from Waddell Elementary were expected to march and then sing from the steps of the old courthouse during the ceremony. VMI will provide cadets and a musical contingent; local volunteers and community groups will supply floats, vintage vehicles and other entries. Hopkins described marshal and logistics plans and said the city and local organizations are assisting with participant marshaling and publicity.

Earlier in the meeting Eric Wilson, executive director of the Rockbridge Historical Society, presented two panels from a traveling exhibit and outlined the society’s upcoming programs. Wilson said a local version of the exhibit opens Oct. 3 and runs through Oct. 26; a Virginia and Vietnam exhibit is scheduled Nov. 7–15 with a closing reception. He said schools in Lexington and Rockbridge County would be bringing students through the exhibits.

Main Street Lexington updates were also delivered: a “Lehiy Love” pub-crawl/“bar crawl” registration and T-shirt pickup is set for Oct. 11; a downtown scarecrow contest will run through October; downtown trick-or-treat is scheduled for 3:30–5 p.m. on Oct. 31; and the Christmas parade theme has been announced as “A Storybook Christmas.” Staff reported the Veterans Memorial work on Courthouse Square is expected to be completed by mid-to-late October ahead of the Nov. 11 parade.

The council also received a report from the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization (RARO). RARO officials described expanded pickleball programming (open court nights and league play), ongoing fundraising for scoreboards at Brubaker Sports Complex and Secrist Field, and steps toward sanctioning girls’ softball and launching middle-school football in Buena Vista next year. RARO representatives said they are pursuing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with local school systems to secure access to school gymnasiums and fields for community programs.

Ending: Council members thanked parade organizers and local cultural groups and encouraged residents to attend the listed events. No formal council action was taken on the parade report at the Oct. 2 meeting.