Celebrating the end of "Rock the Red" Homecoming Week, alumni, students, faculty and the community will line the streets of Ball State's campus and downtown Muncie for the Homecoming parade.
This year will feature 30 campus entries and 25 community entries. Traditionally, only 20 community entires are in the parade, but because of interest, 25 were accepted this year, said Chanel Richards, Homecoming general chairwoman.
Richards said the parade is for the opportunity to get everyone involved.
"It is a great way for us to include the community and get everyone excited for the big game," Richards said. "Since we go through downtown and the Village, a lot of kids and families will be able to see the parade. It is our way of bringing everyone together."
The entries will travel down the streets in "Rock the Red"-themed floats, cars and golf carts while paricipants also walk along the parade path.
Fire trucks, police cars, cheerleaders and four high school bands will be featured in the parade. The Pride of Mid-America, the Ball State marching band, has returned as a parade entry as well.
Morgan Smith, the Homecoming queen, said she will representing Ball State and her sorority, Chi Omega, at the parade.
"We are throwing out candy at the Homecoming parade," she said. "I want to be part to of the parade to represent our community and to see my family and friends in the crowd."
The parade, which starts at 8:30 a.m. at Muncie Central High School, will wrap around downtown until venturing through the Village and making its way down McKinley Avenue through campus. The parade ends at the intersection of Neely and McKinley avenues.
Multiple awards will be handed out after the event for best campus entries, community entries and bands. Judges will review the four high school bands, ranking them at the award ceremony after the parade.
Three community entries will be recognized for their spirit — one float entry, one car/walking entry and one golf cart entry.
Campus entries will receive a total of nine awards. For each of the entry categories — float, car and golf cart — three divisional awards will be given for residence hall, independent and greek.
The parade serves to get the Muncie community and Ball State campus pumped for today's Homecoming football game at noon in Scheumann Stadium.
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