Downtown Indianapolis will be crowded this weekend with several big events, one of which kicked off Friday.

The American Legion is hosting its 101st National Convention in Indianapolis this year. Events started Friday and will go through Monday. A parade is scheduled for Sunday.

Saturday's crowd will start with the annual Colts 5K, which kicks off at 8 a.m. Then in the afternoon, Downtown Indy Inc.'s annual Motorcycles on Meridian is expected to bring around 80,000 people Downtown. Festivities kick off at 4 p.m. Also on Saturday, the Indianapolis Colts return to Lucas Oil Stadium for its third preseason game and the Indianapolis Indians will play at Victory Field.

Here's what you need to know to before heading Downtown this weekend.

Downtown road closures

Streets surrounding Lucas Oil Stadium will have partial closures from 5 to 10 a.m. for the Colts 5K run. The following areas will close:

South Street eastbound lanes from the stadium to Pennsylvania Street

South Street from South Capitol Ave. to Missouri Street (until 11 a.m.)

Pennsylvania southbound lanes from South Street to Vermont Street

Vermont eastbound lanes from Meridian Street to Pennsylvania

Meridian southbound lanes from Vermont to Washington Street

Washington westbound lanes from Meridian to West Street

West Street northbound from Washington to Maryland Street

Two eastbound lanes of Missouri Street from Maryland to McCarty Street

From 4 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Meridian Street between Ohio and South streets will be closed as motorcycles line the street for Downtown Indy Inc.'s annual Motorcycles on Meridian.

Georgia Street will also be shut down from Pennsylvania Street to McCrea Street from 4 p.m. to midnight as vendors fill the street. The west block of Georgia Street from Illinois Street to Capitol Avenue will be closed from 1 to 8 p.m.

Adding to the traffic, the Indianapolis Colts will face off with the Chicago Bears for a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.

On Sunday, the American Legion's convention parade will shut down several Downtown streets from 1 to 9 p.m. Pennsylvania and Meridian streets will be closed from Ninth to Ohio streets. New York, Vermont, Michigan, North, Walnut and St. Clair streets will be closed from Illinois Street to Delaware Street. Massachusetts Avenue will be closed from Pennsylvania Street to Delaware Street. The parade begins at 4 p.m.

American Legion National Convention

Events for American Legion's 101st National Convention began 7 a.m. Friday and last through Thursday, Aug. 29. Most events will be held at the Indiana Convention Center on South Capitol Avenue next to Lucas Oil Stadium and at the nearby JW Marriott on South West Street.

The convention is for American Legion members and is not open to the general public. According to the convention website, 9,000 Legion members are expected to attend. Admission for members is $25.

101st American Legion National Convention:What you need to know

Parking for convention goers will be available at the Gate Ten lot at 701 Kentucky Ave. for a flat daily rate. Additional parking will be available at two American Legion posts: Post 64 at 601 S. Holt Road and Post 500 at 1926 N. Georgetown Rd. Shuttle service will be provided from Gate Ten and both posts to the convention center. For more information, visit legion.org/convention/resources.

Motorcycles and football

In its 6th year, the Colts 5K is the kickoff to football season. The race finishes on the 50-yard line inside Lucas Oil. Click here for a map of the route.

Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis in the South Lot at Lucas Oil Stadium. Participants are encouraged to arrive early. Click here for an event parking map. A post-race party will be held 9 to 11 a.m. outside the north side of the stadium and along South Street.

Around 30,000 motorcycle riders and 50,000 or more spectators are expected to flock Downtown for Motorcycles on Meridian. This is the event's 12th year. Admission is free.

Motorcycles on Meridian:What to know

At 7 p.m., as motorcycles rev their engines, the Colts and Bears will kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium. Downtown parking options for Motorcycles on Meridian and the Colts game can be found at downtownindy.org/get-around-downtown/park.

The Indianapolis Indians play the Louisville Bats at Victory Field at 7:05 p.m.

Contact IndyStar reporter Elizabeth DePompei at 317-444-6196 or edepompei@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @edepompei.