Homecoming parade marches downtown for 4th year

Hillsboro High School will celebrate Homecoming Week September 17-21.
For the fourth year, a Friday parade is planned — complete with three marching bands.
The week will open with coronation of Homecoming royalty Monday night at 7:30 at the HHS gym.
Candidates for Homecoming King and Queen are HHS seniors Jake Olsen, Jake Rust, Brian Smelden, Jenessa Duval, Katrina Meyer and Brittany Wilson.
Last year’s royalty Jake Luithle and Mary Huotari will be on hand to crown their successors.
Guest speaker for the event is Jon Bertsch, a 2005 HHS graduate.
After the ceremony, the traditional tug-of-war between classes will be staged on the old gym floor. Ice cream bars will be served as well.
The evening concludes with a bonfire at Woodland Park. Sparks will fly at the traditional spirit fest staged at the north end of the park on the east side of the road near Little Rock.
The student council is organizing the homecoming events. Tradition has it that students dress according to “themes” during Homecoming Week. This year’s wardrobe themes include Monday – Formal, Tuesday- Hawaiian, Wednesday – Western, Thursday – Sr. Citizen and Friday – Burro Pride.
On Tuesday, the girls volleyball team will play on the road against Thompson. The varsity plays at 7:30 p.m.
In its fourth year, the Homecoming parade is set to start Friday at 2:30 p.m. Three school bands will be performing, according to music teacher Wes Froehlich. The elementary, junior high and senior high bands will take to the city’s newly paved streets, ushering the parade from the Hillsboro Events Center parking lot to downtown.
Froehlich said the 6th grade band will play the school song, “On Wisconsin.”
The junior high band will play “LaBamba.” The high school band will play its signature number, the Spanish themed “El Gato Fiero.”
All the high school classes will have entries in the parade. Businesses are invited to create floats and take part as well. Businesses interested in participating in the parade should contact the school by Wednesday.
Starting at the Hillsboro Events Center parking lot, the parade route will head down 1st Avenue SE to the nursing home, turn north on 4th Street SE to Caledonia Ave., then head west to Main Street. The parade will circle downtown on Main Street, 1st Ave. NW, 1st Street West and 1st Ave. SW, ending up at the Railroad Park, where the band will play the school song.
Students will return to the Events Center for a pep rally.
Friday will culminate with a homecoming football game against Barnes County North. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. The HHS pep band will perform.
A Homecoming dance is planned after the game for students from 9 p.m. until midnight in the HHS gym.