This year’s Gloucester Daffodil Festival is packed with plenty of family-friendly activities and events. Locals and tourists alike will be able to celebrate the first normal festival in three years as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to drop.

Make plans to attend this weekend’s festival, “In Full Bloom, Celebrating Our History,” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Daffodil Festival Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, making its way from Gloucester’s Main Street Center, along Main Street and ending at Botetourt Elementary School. Neal Steele of WXGM FM 99.1 will serve as host.

From 10 a.m. to close on Saturday, Steve Gryb from Miami, “the Pied Piper of Percussion” will hold his “Percussion Petting Zoo,” offering a hands-on experience for children throughout the day.

Opening ceremonies will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Main Stage, which is located in the parking lot behind County Building Two. The food court is also locate...