Students, faculty and alumni will set Homecoming weekend in motion with the annual parade at 5:30 p.m. today.
The parade will begin on the corner of Nash Street and University Drive and move east toward campus. It will cut through the middle of campus on its way to the Amphitheater.
The theme for Homecoming this year is the State of the Future, after the university’s major fund-raising campaign launched in 2001.
The parade will include the Famous Maroon Band, the Starkville Academy Band, unicyclists, current and former Homecoming queens and the MSU cheerleaders, in addition to at least 30 floats created by campus groups, associate director of the alumni association Libba Andrews said.
“We want a ton of people lined up to see the parade. Our students have worked extremely hard on this event and we want to show our MSU spirit,” Andrews said. “We want everyone to come out and enjoy the parade. Bring your kids-bring the entire family.”
The three winning floats will be displayed at the amphitheater.
The parade will be followed by a pep rally at the Amphitheater sponsored by the Student Association.
Student Association president Adam Telle said student organizations have put in a lot of work for this weekend. “This is an opportunity to come together as a Bulldog family and celebrate the maroon and white,” Telle said.
The parade is always a success, and more organizations are participating this year with the floats, Telle said.
Prior to the parade, the SA will host a tailgate party across from Giles Hall.
The Noonday Ring, an event begun last year by the SA, will be held at noon Friday, said Jennifer Glaze, director of student activities for the SA. Students are encouraged to ring their cowbells when the chapel bell rings.
“Many will congregate to the Drill Field. This is something that we would like to do every year and to make the event bigger and bigger,” Glaze said.