by Dennis Dalman
Last year’s Sartell High School Homecoming Parade was a big success, and this year’s parade, set for Friday, Sept. 22, promises to be even bigger and better.
The parade will start at 5:30 p.m. at the area by St. Francis Xavier Church/School and end at the Riverview Intermediate School.
Every year, the homecoming parade is organized by the Sartell High School Student Council members.
There will be lots of fun and colorful floats in the parade, said council member Bennett Prose. Judges will declare one float as the “best.” Last year’s best was the one representing Riverview Intermediate School; its theme was based on the 2015 computer-animated comedy movie, “Minions.”
Prose is co-coordinator of the student council’s Parade Committee, along with Morgan Majerus.
The parade is still in the organizational process. If any businesses or organizations want to add a float to the parade, they can get more information by emailing Bennett Prose at 25prosben@isd748.org.
“The parade is an important event,” Prose said, “because it culminates our Homecoming Week and leads right into our homecoming football game.”
Last year, big crowds lined the streets with eager, grinning children accepting candy tossed by those riding on the floats.
“It’s always so energizing to see the community standing along the route with their families cheering for their favorite floats and getting some candy along the way,” Bennett added. “Last year we had some rain, but that did not deter us, and we still had many people come out to watch the parade. This year we are hoping for some better weather, but nonetheless we are very excited to see the community come together and celebrate Homecoming 2023.
Last year there were 20 floats in the parade. They represented each grade 9 through 12; a float from each of the four schools in the district; several floats representing a particular school sport; one for homecoming royalty; some from local businesses; ones representing the Sartell and St. Stephen fire departments; and one for the Sartell Police Department.
This is a “Monopoly” float that was featured in a previous Sartell High School Homecoming Parade. From left to right are Mitiku Nies, Delaney Dinger, Kathryn Manning, Makenna Privratsky, Summbla Anjum, Dominion Fermi-Jegede and Charles Magnuson.
