Reflections on the Homecoming Parade

I arrived at 2nd Street around 9:50 a.m. I made my way past the crowded Dunkin’ Donut stand and looked for a spot to sit down and enjoy the parade on this cold October morning. My weather app said it was around 50 degrees, but it felt more like 40. I found a nice little opening on second street near the firehouse and took a seat in the still wet grass. The turn out this year seemed to be very good and the streets in my sector were pretty packed.

The parade started a little after 10 a.m. and was led by a group of military veterans. They were followed by a group of clowns from the Osman Shriner Circus, who were followed by a couple of bike shows including the Rochester Cycle Patrol. This mix of balloons, revving engines, and candy was more than enough excitement to get the crowd going. Then there was the UWRF

Marching Falcons who opted to arouse the audience through some game chants and a couple musical motifs I couldn’t recognize. After that was a healthy line up of women's sports teams as well as the dance and cheer teams. Then came a long line of men and women’s sports teams.

Something I’d like to note here is that there was a serious lack of traditional floats in this parade. Most groups/teams rode past in lightly decorated pickup trucks or SUV’s. Which would have been fine if there was an announcers booth or something along those lines, but there wasn’t. Not that it really mattered all too much; The crowd usually cheered regardless, especially if there was candy involved.

After the large group of sports teams were a few other groups including some more action from the Osman Shriner clowns, who had the dysplasia of telling us that they had run out of balloons a little while back. It was some pretty bum news, so it’s a good thing it was followed by the middle school marching band who played us out. Overall, the parade was a very enjoyable experience.

Everyone there seemed to enjoy it, and I know that many are looking forward to attending the parade next year.