The key to any good parade float is easy; spirit and candy. At this year’s homecoming parade, there was plenty of both to go around.
Late Friday afternoon, students and families gathered downtown for the annual homecoming parade. People were lined up for blocks in downtown Fargo to watch the celebration, and everyone was excited. The Fargo community once again showed their pride for NDSU and came out to show support for the 2016 Homecoming game.
The parade started at 5:30 p.m. at Northern Pacific Ave. and Broadway, and ended around 7 p.m. on the corner of 7th St. N. This year there were seventy-five float participants, ranging from businesses to NDSU clubs and organizations.
Some included NDSU Student Social Work Organization, Saddle & Sirloin, NDSU Engineering Ambassadors, NDSU Agronomy Club, multiple Greek life chapters, NDSU Foundation and Alumni Support, Thundar the Bison, many businesses in the Fargo-Moorhead area and NDSU’s marching band along with surrounding high schools’ marching bands. Even with the many different clubs and businesses, they all had one thing in common; NDSU spirit.
Tristan Hardt, a freshman and parade-goer, commented on the experience.
“As my first Homecoming parade, this was great. The community has so much support for the university and now I can’t wait for the football game tomorrow,” Hardt said.
In all, there was a high attendance rate and many people of all ages came to enjoy this year’s parade.
With the hype from the parade, Bisonation had a restless night before the homecoming football game. Another homecoming has come and gone. We now look forward to next year’s parade and other activities in hopes for yet another successful homecoming.