WHEELING — The Wheeling 250 Anniversary Parade is set to step off at 1 p.m. Saturday in downtown Wheeling, where the streets are expected to be lined with spectators.

The parade will begin at 20th Street and follow the Market and Main streets route of the annual Fantasy in Lights holiday parade.

The parade will include the West Virginia University Marching Band, U.S. Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps, local bands, floats and more. Due to the parade, the Wheeling Police Department has announced several downtown road closures ahead of the parade.

They include:

∫ CENTER MARKET AREA will CLOSE at noon Saturday. The area closing will be Market Street from 20th to 22nd streets.

∫ MARKET STREET from 10th to 20th streets will close shortly after 12:45 p.m.

∫ MAIN STREET from 10th to 23rd streets will close at 12:45 p.m.; 10th Street will remain one way during the parade to alleviate and divert traffic congestion from Interstate 70.

NOTE: Those who park or travel the “side streets” between Main and Market streets will not be permitted to leave until the parade concludes around 2 p.m.

∫ PARKING METERS will be bagged and marked with street closure information during the day today. Parking will still be allowed in these areas all day today. Any vehicle parked on the parade route during the posted No Parking times will be towed Saturday morning.

The public is urged to arrive early for the parade and be mindful of the influx of pedestrians and vehicles in downtown. The Wheeling Police Department will have officers stationed at several intersections to direct traffic on foot, on bike and in patrol cars.

Parade entries in numerical order are:

1. American Legion Post 1 Color Guard

2. U.S. Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps

3. Sons of the American Revolution & Re-Enactors

4. WVDAR regent and WVSSAR president

5. Wheeling Chapter DAR officers

6. Girl Scout Troop 1088

7. Boy Scout Troop 6 float

8. Odd Fellows float

9. Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band

10. Sisters of St. Joseph (in car) and Central Catholic High School marchers

11. Wheeling Hospital float

12. St. Clairsville High School Band

13. U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., and his wife, Mary

14. Ohio Valley Trail Partners/Bike Wheeling cyclists

15. Vintage race boats

16. Triadelphia Volunteer Fire Department

17. Wheeling Park High School Band

18. John Jorden, principal of the year

19. Oglebay trolley with Wheeling mayor and city council

20. West Liberty University Marching Band

21. Antique cars

22. Carlin’s Battery

23. West Virginia legislators

24. 249th U.S. Army Band

25. U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

26. OVRTA Trolley Bus

27. WVU President Gordon Gee and Laurie Erickson

28. WVU Marching Band

29. Wheeling Fire Department

Prior to the parade in Wheeling, a wreath laying ceremony and memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Walnut Grove Cemetery, located at the north end of Fourth Street in Martins Ferry. Wreaths will be placed on the graves of Ebenezer Zane and Elizabeth “Betty” Zane. They were children of Noah Zane, founder of the settlement that became Wheeling. Betty Zane made a famous run for gunpowder during the Battle of Fort Henry.

Jay Frey, chairman of the Wheeling 250 Committee, said the memorial service will be co-hosted by the Wheeling chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and the Fort Henry chapter of Sons of the American Revolution.