This year, the University of Denver’s Homecoming celebration will revive an annual tradition of a Homecoming parade.
DU’s Homecoming celebration included a parade every year until 2001 when the tradition stopped. The 2003 University of Denver Programs Board is reviving the parade this year.
When asked why the parade was stopped two years ago, Traditions Chair Megan Fullerton said that the advisors and chairs decided to cancel the 2001 parade because “it was not a good use of funds.” Fullerton thinks this year will be better because “we’ve had enough time to plan and get more participation.”
The parade will start at 11 a.m. on Saturday on Wesley Avenue and travel north down University Boulevard to Asbury Avenue in front of the Ritchie Center.
“I want people to come because I think they will be pleasantly surprised. We’re hoping to have entertainment that will appeal to every age group,” said DUPB Parade Chairman Brian Bau.
The parade will feature community members and leaders from the university and the Denver area. There will be floats by DU organizations including fraternities, sororities, the Rick Center, the AUSA Senate and other school organizations.
The DUPB took special care to do additional advertising this year. They sent 10,000 Homecoming packets to alumni and parents. They are hoping for a large community turnout. “The parade is going to be unlike anything you have seen in the recent past here at DU,” said Bau.
The theme for this year’s Homecoming is Anchor Down at DU. Starting Thursday there will be a Homecoming formal downtown. Tickets will be $5 and buses will start leaving the school at 8 p.m.
On Friday, there will be multiple events, including campus walking tours, a parent and faculty lunch and the “Subs and Sailor Games” activities for students.
After the parade on Saturday there will be a pre-game party, which is being co-programmed with the Alumni and focusing on specific Alumni classes.
The party will be a house dinner with music, held in Gates Field House right before the hockey game. This will be followed by the Homecoming hockey game against Northeastern University at 7:35 p.m.
