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And the big draw for this gathering is none other than Vice President Kamala Harris.

 the vice president and her husband, Doug Emhoff, are scheduled to appear on Friday, with Harris making remarks at a campaign reception later in the evening.

The get-together will be at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel, 800 Washington Avenue. The doors open on Thursday and Friday at 8 a.m. and the Saturday closing session is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The convention is “open to all Democrats,” the Missouri Democratic Party , although .

St. Louis Aldermanic President Megan E. Green will be a featured speaker at the event. Green said she has been slated to speak at 5 p.m. Friday at a poverty caucus, then will take part in a panel discussion.

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones' campaign staff did not respond to requests for information concerning the mayor's participation in the event.

Kicking off the meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday will be a meeting of the DNC’s council.

St. Louis Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, of Boulevard Heights, will speak to that council about environmental justice. She will be joined by Peggy Flanagan, lieutenant governor of Minnesota.

Other councils also are scheduled will meet during the three-day event, including groups focused on issues involving veterans and military members; the LGBTQ community; seniors; women; and several minority groups.

The most politically tantalizing news related to the DNC coming to town — at least one being whispered by some political observers — was that Mayor Jones’ move Monday night to clear a homeless encampment from City Hall was her own attempt to tidy up the neighborhood before conventioneers hit town.

Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, of Downtown, who was instrumental in halting Jones’ effort to relocate the encampment, said, “I don’t know what Mayor Jones’ administration was thinking” in ordering the action.

“My goal was just to find some accommodations” for the homeless who have been camping on City Hall property for the last month or so.

Jones’ office maintains that its decision to break up the encampment — “not an easy one to make,” according to a spokesman — was based on numerous emergency calls for police and ambulances, drug use and fighting among tenants and complaints from city employees.

After Jones' move was delayed Monday night, the encampment had been cleared from City Hall property by Wednesday morning.