The two top candidates in the race to replace the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy will be hitting Dorchester in the coming days.

Congressman Michael Capuano (D-Somerville) will be holding one of his "Open Mike" events at the McKeon Post at 4 Hill Top St.

The 3:30 p.m. event on Thursday (Dec. 3) will focus on veterans' issues. Capuano's father was a Purple Heart veteran of World War II. His mother grew up in the St. Gregory's area.

Attorney General Martha Coakley, the frontrunner and a former Dorchester resident, appears the day before the Dec. 8 Democratic primary.

The election eve rally is scheduled for 6 p.m. at IBEW Local 103, at 256 Freeport St.

Also running in Democratic primary are businessmen Stephen Pagliuca, the co-owner of the Boston Celtics, and Alan Khazei, co-founder of CityYear.