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2023 Homecoming FAQs

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1. Parade Date and Start Time

Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023

Time: Dependent upon game time

• If the game is before noon, the parade will start at 8am.
• If the game is after noon, the parade will start at 9am.

2. Each packet should include

• Color Entry Number
• Parade Lineup w/staging entry and description
• Parade staging map
• Parade route
• FAQs

3. Everyone in your entry needs to know

Entry Number – Locate your entry number on the map, text it to everyone in your group.

Entry Name (as it is on the lineup form) – Text it to everyone in your group.

Everyone needs to know the correct barricade location to enter the staging area – Text it to everyone in your group.

Write your barricade location on the back of your staging number.

Entries wishing to enter the staging area that cannot provide their name or number, will not be allowed into the staging area.

4. What does the color of my lineup number mean?

The color corresponds to your exit direction at the conclusion of the parade.

• Orange: To OSU (west)
• Blue: Return to staging area using Husband St. (west)
• Green: Will go north at the end of the parade (north)
• Red: Strickland Park – Bands (east, cut through the CVS parking lot)
• Grey: Behind the Bradford Plaza (east) – Entries with a large amount of passengers, or walkers
• Yellow: East on Hall of Fame to Perkins Road – Street legal entries

5. Parade Route

• Starts at 9th & Main street, ends at Hall of Fam and Main
• Entries will be distributed in one of three directions (Covered in #4)
• Parade route speed is 3mph
• There will be orange lines painted along Main Street (from 6th to 9th), you must stay within those lines while on the parade route. These lines are used to protect you and parade spectators.
• NO GAPS, It is important to stay two car lengths from the entry in front of you. Gaps cause confusion, make people think the parade is over and temps people to cross the street while the parade is still active. It also disrupts television broadcasting.
• The parade will take approximately 1 hour to complete and is 1 ½ miles long.

6. Where do I display my number during the parade?

You will attach your colored lineup number to the center of the forward-most portion of your parade entry. Your number must be visible during the entire staging process, and during the parade.

If you entry number cannot be seen in staging, you will not be allowed to proceed to the parade route.

7. What do I do if I lose my staging number?

If you lose your number before the parade, you can contact Braxton Tempest at (405) 744-5410 to receive an additional parade number. If you lose your number the morning of the parade, you will need to make a replacement number. Write the color and the number on the replacement paper. Be sure it is visible to parade staff.

8. Why do I need two capable drivers?

In the event of an emergency for one of your drivers, another legal driver must be able to take over. If you have a specialized piece of equipment it will need to be moved so that it does not block the rest of the parade.

9. No Parade substitutions are allowed

No parade substitutions are allowed at this point. The staging area has been set with your entry information in mind.

10. NO LOADING AND UNLOADING DURING THE PARADE

No one may load or unload people from a moving entry, for any reason. You are not allowed to stop during the parade, except for an emergency, in which case you should exit the parade at the next intersection, immediately.

11. What if I am a parade entry member with functional-needs, how do I access my staging location?

Any functional-needs participant will be escorted to their destination by a barricade official. The transport vehicle will have to leave the staging area and will not be allowed as part of the parade.

12. Why do I have to take side roads back from the parade if my entry involves and animal, or specialty vehicles?

Your safety and the safety of your animal come first. Side roads are less populated, especially on game days, than main streets. You can return back to your original location much easier on the side roads. The road that leads back to staging is Husband Street.

13. When should I arrive for the parade?

All entries should be IN PLACE one hour prior to the start time of the parade. This means that you must arrive in enough time to find your place in staging. This will allow other entry members to find your location by parade time. Barricades will close 30 minutes prior to parade start time.

14. What happens if there is inclement weather?

• Snow: parade goes
• Rain: parade goes
• Lightning: parade is postponed/cancelled
• Tornado/severe weather: parade is cancelled
• Ice: parade start time will have a 30 minute delay then possible cancel.
• High winds: parade goes

15. What if I have an emergency while I am in the parade?

In the event of an emergency, direct your entry towards the nearest side road to exit the parade. Remove your whole entry from the parade.

16. What if I hear a siren during the parade?

First responders are aware of when and where the parade is located and will do what they can to avoid this route. However, always use caution and check your surroundings. You may need to stop to allow an emergency vehicle through your area of the parade.

17. Animals

Animal entries will unload at Couch Park. Use the light located at 12th & Perkins Road to cross to the staging area.

18. Horse Entries

• Need to ride 4 across, no less than 3, single file is not allowed, no more than 25 horses per entry.
• You are responsible for cleaning up after your animals, use bags or clean-up crews during the parade to clear the path for the entry behind you.
• This includes staging, as well as the parade route.
• No animals are authorized to be on private property, especially in staging.

19. Multiple Vehicle Entries

Entries operating under one entry number will need to drive side by side in the parade. Single file is prohibited, as this elongates the parade and causes gaps.

20. Staging Area/Respect for Neighborhoods

• Do not block driveways
• You are not allowed on any private property, you can be cited for trespassing.
• Bands – can only warm up in the street.
• Animals that relieve themselves in the staging area, SHALL be cleaned up. NO EXCEPTIONS!
• There will be residents that need to leave, and that need to return to the staging area. We cannot prevent them from leaving and returning to their homes or businesses.

21. Decorated Vehicles and Trailers

Vehicles that have been decorated for the parade will need to follow state law and have all brake lights and turn signals visible, while in route to the staging area. Once in the staging area, you can cover (decorate) your vehicle to cover the lights.

Once the parade route is complete, you must uncover your lights, for legal transport from the parade area.

22. Can I throw candy?

We do not throw anything from a parade entry to the crowd. We distribute candy using hand-to-hand delivery. Failure to follow this rule will result in automatic ejection from the parade and possible fine/citation.

23. Who do I contact if I have questions?

Contact Braxton Tempest at the Alumni Office: (405) 744-5410; if you have any questions regarding the parade.