While the weather outside is looking frightful for Saturday, we’re still hoping for a good outcome so that the Suffolk Holiday Parade won’t get canceled for a second consecutive year.

But it was a delightful time inside of a lot of downtown buildings for some Suffolk elementary school students on Tuesday, as they painted the windows of several downtown businesses. A group of high school students will paint more windows this Thursday, for a total of 80 little elves who teamed up to bring some holiday magic to downtown.

The theme of the parade and the artwork this year is “Jingle Bell Rock.” The festive artwork features gingerbread men guitarists, snowmen drummers and caroling reindeer, all in keeping with the musical, wintry theme.

This annual tradition has been going on for 18 years now, and everyone downtown on Tuesday agreed that the event brightens the town for the upcoming parade and the Christmas season.

On Tuesday morning, talented art students from Creekside, Hillpoint, Kilby Shores, Northern Shores and Mack Benn Jr. elementary schools were at five downtown businesses with help from their teachers. Students from John Yeates, John F. Kennedy, Forest Glen, King’s Fork Middle, King’s Fork High and Nansemond River high schools will paint on Thursday.

Participating businesses include the Suffolk News-Herald, SunTrust, BB&T, Wells Fargo Bank, Subway, the Plaid Turnip, Bank of America, Baron’s Pub, UnCork’d, Serendipity Hair Salon, Brighter Day Café, the Suffolk Peanut Center, OnePast7 and the Suffolk Public Schools administrative offices.

If you’re not already planning to be downtown at some point this month, we urge you to make a special trip and view the students’ artwork at the Suffolk News-Herald as well as our neighbor businesses. It really is spectacular.

We hope to see you at the parade!