GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Thousands of supporters lined the sidewalks as they waited to get into Riverside Park for a Friday rally for Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Grand Rapids Police Department estimated some 6,000 people attended the rally. The line to get in wrapped around the majority of the park, though it was moving quickly and the mood was positive.

Police patrolled on foot and bikes and in cars and there were mobile cameras set up throughout the park. Everyone underwent a security screening before getting into the rally area. While there was a pro-Palestine demonstration happening outside the park, News 8 crews did not see any protesters who opposed Harris specifically.

“The rally’s always look like a good time, so excited to be energized,” Michigan State University student Kathryn Walterhouse, who is voting in a presidential election for the first time, said.

She and friend made the drive from the Lansing area to attend the rally and be part of what they said was a part of history.

“I definitely think it’s a little bit higher stakes, a little more tension, but everything is going to be OK,” Whitehouse said.

Harris supporters said they weren’t going back and expressed concern about what would happen if former President Donald Trump wins back the White House.

“I love Kamala. I love what she stands for. I love her as a person. I’m just excited,” rally attendee Judy Soderquist said.

“The energy that (Harris) has is fantastic and I really think she’s going to do a lot for the country,” Mary Laraway said.

“I oppose Trump in every way. I’m looking forward to a happy and more beautiful future,” Samuel Frontiera.

Absentee voting has been underway for a few weeks now in Michigan. State data shows some 2.2 million absentee ballots have been requested and about 945,000 returned as of Friday morning. All but one Harris supporter who spoke to News 8 at the rally said they had already cast their ballot.

One of those who had already voted, Geri Holzgen, said it was still important to come out and support Harris.

“I wanted to see her and show everybody in the world that we had a lot of people here. I don’t want anyone saying, ‘There was nobody there,'” Holzgen said.

Laraway, a lifelong Democrat, was another of those who said they already cast a ballot. She said reproductive rights were an important issue for her and that she was voting for “all the females in my world.”

“I’m here for my granddaughter, my mom, my sisters, sisters-in-laws, cousins. I just think it’s a very important issue, one of the bigger ones,” Laraway said.

NEIGHBORS NAVIGATE RALLY TRAFFIC

The rally meant lots of traffic around Riverside Park, situated on Monroe Avenue between about Knapp Street and I-96.

“My husband left for work at 6:30 a.m. and said people were already lined up down the street,” neighbor Abby Cooper said.

She has lived nearby for about five years and said the park is often busy with events — but nothing quite like a visit from a presidential candidate who is also the sitting vice president.

“We’ve been to Food Truck Friday, Octoberfest, and we have never seen cars lined up this far down the street,” she said.

Some neighbors said they didn’t initially know what the event was.

“I just assumed it was another cross-country meeting,” neighbor Brad Theel said.

Andre Otte, who is moving into the neighborhood, said he was excited to find out it was a campaign stop.

“‘Cause I wasn’t going to go, but now I can experience it from a block away,” he said.

Cooper also welcomed the crowds for Harris.

“Last night, I was actually contacted by a coworker asking if she could park at my house because she had heard that she will be close by. So yeah, that got me excited and I signed up to join as well,” she said.

Theel said he had no complaints — he’s used to the bustle around the park.

“It’s something you just get used to. The park, it’s great to see events are happening over there and people are showing up. So a price to pay, but willing,” he said.

A number of cars were ticketed Friday for parking illegally in the neighborhood.

With the presidential race in Michigan neck-and-neck and the state a key battleground, both Harris and Trump have held frequent events around the state and are sure to be back before Election Day on Nov. 5.

“I think that we need to know that they care, that Michigan is important for them,” Soderquist said.