Residents across Okaloosa County will have three opportunities to participate in National Day of Prayer observances on May 1, with events scheduled in Niceville, Fort Walton Beach and Crestview.

The City of Crestview will host its observance at 6 p.m. on the courthouse steps, located at 101 E James Lee Blvd. Attendees are asked to bring their own chairs for the event, which will focus on blessing the city, officials, citizens and military personnel.

The City of Niceville will host its observance at noon at City Hall, located at 208 Partin Drive North. Mayor Dan Henkel will lead the community gathering, sharing remarks and prayers during the event.

• “Community members are warmly invited to join together for reflection, unity, and prayer,” according to the city’s announcement. No RSVP is required for the Niceville observance.

In Fort Walton Beach, the Greater Fort Walton Beach Ministerial Alliance will sponsor a separate National Day of Prayer event at noon at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium, located at 109 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW.

The Ministerial Alliance, founded in 1975, represents various houses of worship and outreach ministries throughout the community. During their observance, civil authorities will read Congressional and Presidential Proclamations while faith leaders pray for different aspects of national life including government, schools, families and military.

National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, celebrating religious liberty across denominations and faiths nationwide. The day brings together leaders and representatives from various faith traditions in public venues across the country.