The first Saturday in November will be a day of charity, celebration and entertainment.

It will be a morning of running for the well being children, celebrating the lives of veterans in a downtown parade, enjoying food in a cooking contest, followed by an afternoon of remembering fraternal brotherhood, followed by an evening of remembering the history of the Marine Corps League, celebrating the 100th year of the Nacogdoches NAACP and just getting down and dirty at a collegiate rodeo.

SPEAK UP FOR KIDS

Local residents will have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children in foster care by participating in the second annual "Speak Up For Kids" 5K and Kids 1K fun run/walk.

The event will benefit the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Deep East Texas.

The run/walk begins at 9 a.m. today in Pecan Acres Park and is an event for all ages and skill levels.

There will be two courses in Pecan Park — a .6-mile course with medals being awarded to all participants and a 3.1-mile course with trophies awarded to first through third in each age group.

Cost to participate in the 5K is $35 and the kids 1K event is $15.

In addition to the fun run, singer and songwriter Kasey Lansdale will perform.

There will also be activities and booths that will be set up with free food and drinks, games, health education information and more.

Congressman Louie Gohmert will be present to start off the race.

VETERAN'S DAY PARADE

The Veteran's Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. today in downtown Nacogdoches. Participants will make their way through the downtown streets of Nacogdoches along the tradition parade route in honor of the veterans of current and past wars. Veterans Day is Wednesday.

Contact Joe Rogers at 556-0947 for additional information.

DISH AND SPOON COOKING CONTEST

Judging food items prepared by kids and teens will also be on Saturday at the Nacogdoches Public Library.

The judging begins at noon, and the winners will be announced at 1 p.m.

MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL

The Marine Corps League will celebrate its annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball at 6 p.m. today at the Hotel Fredonia.

The event will mark 234 years of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The ball will feature a guest speaker and a night of cocktails, dinner and dancing.

OTHER EVENTS

Other weekend events include the NAACP 100th anniversary celebration at 6 p.m. in the grand ballroom of the Baker Pattillo Student Center on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University, and a reunion of the Delta Pi chapter of SFA's Delta Sigma Phi fraternity with members wielding ax handles at the SFA football game. The Healing Center will celebrate its seventh anniversary of serving the community with an event Saturday night.

The SFA Rodeo concludes tonight at the Nacogdoches Exposition Center with gates opening at 6 p.m. and the rodeo beginning at 7 p.m.