Join today’s Pavlik parade to the Chevy

STAFF REPORT

Think of that drive to a very important event.

Your first date. A job interview.

Imagine that ride when you’re a world boxing champion and you’re defending that title in your hometown arena.

Kelly Pavlik makes that drive tonight, and everyone is invited to be part of the festivities.

Team Pavlik is expected to depart its hotel and drive down South Avenue at about 7 p.m. The departure, however, could begin as late as 8 p.m. Watch Vindy.com this afternoon for a more precise time.

The escort, led by the Youngstown and Boardman police departments, will continue down South Avenue into Youngstown and pass favorite landmarks such as the East Side Civics Club.

The caravan will then proceed down Williamson Avenue to Market Street into downtown.

If you’re partying downtown at any of the bars — Barley’s, BW3, Rosetta Stone – make your way to Market and Federal streets around 7:15 p.m. That’s where the caravan will make its next turn.

It will make its way to Walnut Street, passing between the parking garage and the U.S. Post Office.

When the caravan gets to the Chevrolet Centre entry area, the Youngstown Fire Department will greet it with extended ladders forming an archway of sorts.

The warm welcome only gets hotter at that point, with Phantom Fireworks lighting up the sky.

Use today’s poster in The Vindicator on Page A12 to wallpaper the route.