Homecoming weekend kicked off Friday night and continued through Saturday with the annual DU parade, two hockey games, a tailgate party and the crowning of DU royalty.

DU hockey beat non-conference Ohio State 3-1 on Friday but lost to the Buckeyes on Saturday, 4-3.

During Saturday’s game, homecoming royalty was crowned. Katie Ross, a senior finance/marketing major was chosen queen. Jase Roberts, a senior marketing major was crowned king.

“Homecoming is an amazing tradition at DU.B I was incredibly honored to be nominated by my peers and it was very humbling to win,” Roberts said.

“I feel honored to have won Homecoming Queen this year and was completely shocked when they announced my name.B

“I am very excited to be a part of the wonderful tradition, especially because of how much DU has positively impacted the past four years of my life,” said Ross.

The weekend got off to a good start on Friday afternoon when some 300 students attended the Pioneer pre-game tailgate party on Driscoll Lawn.

They socialized, ate free snacks and burgers and drank beer at the beer garden.

Free T-shirts were distributed. Students could also make posters at the Spirit Tent and start the weekend long celebration of DU’s long-standing Homecoming tradition.

A Pioneer showcase featured the DU Pep Band, Idiosingcrasies and DU cheerleading team.

Saturday afternoon students and parents visiting for parents’ weekend lined the streets surrounding the campus to watch the Homecoming parade, in which 36 student organization participated by marching or designing parade floats.

A marching band and a Cub Scout troop led the parade that wound around campus and past sorority and fraternity rows.

Club Sports won the parade float competition. The float judging was based on creativity, originality, design, DU spirit, theme and sustainability.

The winning float was considered sustainable because it reused equipment such as kayaks, rope and outdoor equipment that club sport members use throughout the year.