Old friendships will be rekindled and new ones sparked when folks flock to Chuckatuck this Saturday for Founders’ Day.

A parade kicking off the third annual event starts at the corner of Kings Highway and Godwin Boulevard — where participants assemble an hour earlier — at 10 a.m., ending at Bob House Parkway at 10:30 a.m.

After the parade, kids’ activities get under way at Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department, 300 Kings Highway, where the Nansemond River High School band performs at 10:45 a.m.

The Oakland Elementary School chorus comes on at 11 a.m., and at 11:30 a.m. the volunteer fire department dedicates a truck to Jerry Saunders, its longtime member and leader who died last month.

The Rhondels conjure their first chords at noon, and a magic show will spellbind beginning at 1 p.m.

A pet costume contest will be held at 2 p.m. and kids’ Halloween costume contest at 2:30 p.m. The event ends at 3 p.m.

The Greater Chuckatuck Historical Foundation created Chuckatuck Founder’s Day.

A Chuckatuck High School combined-classes reunion the night before should boost event numbers this year, according to foundation board member Kitty Martin. “Hopefully they can come and join the festivities,” she said.

“You are greeting your old friends and making new acquaintances.”

Martin isn’t a Chuckatuck native, but she’s called the tight-knit community home for the past 36 years. And her husband’s family traces its Chuckatuck roots back more than 100 years, Martin said.

“That’s why I got into it,” she said. “Chuckatuck is a nice little community.”

Martin says at least 24 vendors have signed up for this year — twice as many as last year.

“I think we’ve had a better response,” she said. “The word got out a little bit more. When something is new, it takes a little longer to take hold.”

Founder’s Day has a lot to offer children, Martin said, with games and crafts, inflatables, a magician and the Halloween and pet costume contests.

“It’s to try to keep kids’ attention,” Martin said.

Grand Marshal this year is Chief Barry Bass of the Nansemond Indian Tribal Association.

Martin said she would have a display in tribute to the community’s veterans, as well as active-duty and deceased military, while an antique cars will be on display.

Throughout the event, the historical foundation’s mini-museum and office will remain open in the Gwaltney Store building. A golf cart will be available to shuttle folks between the store and the fire department, Martin said.

“We are hoping to get more community involvement,” Martin said. “We hope that the community will start to see the event as a regular thing.”