South Tidewater News

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is facilitating travel to the 38th Annual Grand Illumination Parade in Downtown Norfolk on Saturday, November 23. HRT will offer $4 roundtrip special event fare passes for the Tide light rail and Elizabeth River Ferry. Children under 17 can ride free when accompanied by a paying adult.

These passes are available for purchase in advance through Ticketleap at gohrt.com/gi until November 23. The pass is valid only for travel on the day of the parade.

On parade day, both the light rail and ferry services will operate more frequently to accommodate attendees. Starting at 10 a.m., the Elizabeth River Ferry will run every 30 minutes between Waterside in Norfolk and High Street and North Landing in Portsmouth. From 4 p.m., service frequency will increase to every 15 minutes, with the last ferry leaving Waterside at 11:45 p.m.

The Tide light rail will have a frequency of every 10 minutes from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., or one hour after the parade concludes. From 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., trains will run every 30 minutes, with final departures from EVMC/Fort Norfolk and Newtown Road stations scheduled for 11 p.m. The Harbor Park Light Rail Station will not be served between 5 and 9 p.m.

To assist with potential overflow from the light rail, HRT will provide five shuttle buses at City Hall Avenue near MacArthur Station post-parade, transporting passengers directly to Newtown Road Station. An additional shuttle bus will be stationed at Civic Plaza for overflow passengers.

Due to traffic restrictions during the event, downtown bus services will be suspended.

Free parking is offered for light rail customers at Newtown Road Station, Military Highway Station, Ballentine Broad/Creek Station, and EVMC/Fort Norfolk Station.

For further details regarding parade passes, operational hours or parking information, individuals are encouraged to visit www.gohrt.com.