Homecoming Parade set Oct. 18; entry open

The Idaho State University Homecoming 2008 Parade on Oct. 18 in Pocatello will start for the third consecutive year at the corner of South First Avenue and East Center Street, just east of the Center Street Underpass.

From the starting point, the parade will proceed up Center Street to South 15th Avenue, where entries will turn right and proceed to the parade’s finish at the Holt Arena parking lot.

Parade entries are due Oct. 10. After this date a $25 late fee applies. No entries will be accepted after noon Oct. 17.

The parade’s theme is “Crush” and is set from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 18, and will be followed by the annual pregame tailgate party and football game. The parade lineup begins at 8 a.m.  

The parade staging area will be along First Avenue from Center Street south to Humbolt Street. The parade check-in/entrance points will be at East Dillon and East Humbolt Streets. For entries that have horses, there will be a staging and parking area on East Sutter Street.

Line-up is on a first-come basis for community groups. Slots will be reserved for school band members, cheerleaders and drill teams. All other high school and ISU organizations will enter the parade line-up on a first-come basis.

Parade organizers are requesting that parade participants take steps to avoid creating traffic congestion at the parade’s staging area. Only parade entries may enter the parade line-up at the East Dillon and East Humbolt Street check-in/entrance points. Floats and entries need to be fully constructed before coming onto First Avenue.

All other traffic, such as vehicles dropping off parade participants, will not be allowed on First Avenue because this creates great safety concerns for pedestrians moving about the congested staging area.

Groups will be required to stage at a different area away from First Avenue, and then walk to the parade starting area. The ISU Pond Student Union Building parking lot located at the end of East Humbolt and East Dillon Streets, and the ISU parking lot on Fourth Avenue between Terry and Putnum Streets, are both good staging and parking areas for parade participants. There will also be some parking available on the side streets near the parade staging area.

There are no parade entry fees for University-registered student organizations or other educational entities such as University departments or community public schools. The fee for non-profit agencies is $15. Commercial entry fees for businesses, political candidates and community groups are $30 per unit. Examples of a unit are a motorized vehicle with or without attached trailer, walking group or marching group. Applicants must specify what type of unit they are entering.

To avoid undue pressure on the parade committee and volunteers, parade organizers will once again strictly enforce the $25 late fee for entries made after the Friday, Oct. 10 deadline.

For more information, contact the ISU Involvement Center at 282-3451, or e-mail parade chair Linda Burke at burklind@isu.edu.