Homecoming Weekend will kick off with a parade at 6 p.m. Oct. 11 before the home football game against Rutgers the following day.
The Marching Hundred, cheerleaders and participating organizations will begin their march at the 17th Street and Woodlawn Avenue intersection and travel along Woodlawn until the parade concludes in front of the Indiana Memorial Union.
The alumni association allows local groups from a variety of categories to participate in the parade. The types of parade participants are separated into four categories: floats, decorated cars and walking or musical groups.
The top three student organizations will be awarded a prize based on several factors: cars and floats will be judged on theme, creativity and construction, then musical and walking organizations will be judged on attire and choreography.
The Marching Hundred has been preparing for the event by testing different drum cadences and working on high-step choreography, freshman and Marching Hundred trumpet player Parker Studer said.
One of the many organizations participating in the parade is the Indiana Canine Assistant Network at IU. Club member and sophomore Miranda Hoffer said the tradition will be helpful in publicizing club opportunities.
“It connects a lot of different parts of the campus and gets the word out about whatever club or program you have,” Hoffer said.
She also noted the atmosphere that the parade can add to the environment of Homecoming weekend.
“I think it’s a really cool way to strengthen the Bloomington community because a lot of alumni are coming in and people from all over are coming to the football game, and they will probably all see the parade,” Hoffer said.
