Homecoming parade takes over Fort Collins

The CSU Rams fight song echoed through the streets of Fort

Collins Saturday as the annual Homecoming parade made its way

through town.

This year’s combination of Family Weekend and Homecoming theme

was “The Spirit of Adventure.”

Thousands of community members and CSU students lined Laurel and

Shields streets early Saturday morning to enjoy the parade.

CSU cheerleaders and the university’s marching band led the way,

pumping up the crowd with songs and cheers.

“We came to support CSU,” said Kari Melhouse, a junior human

development and family studies major. “We also came to see our

friends on the float.”

Many of the Greek floats embraced the Homecoming theme. Float

themes included pirate ships, jungles, Indiana Jones, mountain

climbing, around the world in 80 days and Trojan horses, among

others.

“I liked the float with the pirates and hot tub,” said Chelsea

Crider, a

junior natural resources major. “The pirate was very

creative.”

This pirate ship, which included a student wearing a Brigham

Young University shirt walking the plank, was built by the Alpha

Gamma Rho and Beta Theta Pi fraternities and the Delta Delta Delta

sorority.

CSU President Larry Penley, who rode in a 1936 Ford, led the way

through town and was followed by a number of floats, bands,

Shriners, horses and community members.

Many people marched in support of political candidates toward

the end of the parade.

The Shriners had a number of cars in the parade, as well as a

bicycle with a large front tire and a small rear tire.

Edward Zorn, grandmaster of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of

Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Colorado and a CSU graduate,

said the bike has many names, including “High Wheel” and

“Ordinary.”

“It just takes a few minutes to learn to ride it,” Zorn said.

“But to be comfortable on it you need to ride it awhile. You can’t

turn sharply so you have to watch out for people.”

This was Zorn’s second year riding the bike in the parade, but

he said shrine units have been coming to the parade for a long

time.

According to CSU’s Web site, the first annual Homecoming

celebration was held in October 1914. The Alumni Association,

academic colleges and campus organizations coordinate many of the

weekend activities, including the parade.

Homecoming events started on Thursday and ended Sunday. Events

included the Homecoming 5K race, a talent and variety show and the

CSU vs. Brigham Young University football game, which the Rams lost

31-21.