State College to change who can participate in homecoming parade. Here’s why
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- State College's district will now restrict parade access to school-approved groups only.
- Safety concerns and law enforcement advice prompted limits on participants.
- Large vehicles like 18-wheeler trucks will no longer be used during the parade.
The State College Area School District will limit participation in its annual homecoming parade due to safety concerns.
In an email to families sent Tuesday afternoon, Superintendent Curtis Johnson said the district will allow only school-sponsored groups or other organizations approved by district officials to participate in the parade. According to the message, these groups include sports teams, intramural teams, clubs, activities and parent-teacher organizations.
Additionally, the district will no longer accept applications from outside organizations “that are not directly related to the district” seeking to participate in the homecoming parade.
In past years, dance troupes, sports organizations and other local groups participated in the parade.
In the email, Johnson said the district is changing its parade participation “due to safety recommendations from law enforcement” surrounding the overall size and length of the homecoming parade. State College’s parade will no longer use 18-wheeler flatbed trucks to help address those concerns, too.
“Since the route changed a few years ago, we have experienced safety issues because of the large number of participants overwhelming the parade route,” Johnson wrote in a statement. “We understand that this is a big change and many community organizations will no longer be able to be in the parade. However, to ensure the safety of the participants and spectators alike, this shift is necessary.”
Nabil Mark, the district’s media and communications manager, said 18-wheeler flatbed trucks often had trouble navigating narrow residential streets along the homecoming parade route. At times, they slowed the parade down and needed to drive over curbs while turning.
The homecoming parade’s length was also difficult to manage due to its high number of participants, Mark said. The parade, whose route takes a somewhat circular path near State High, would sometimes turn into itself, causing some delays and congestion that forced some spectators into the streets.
“We love the time-honored tradition of the State High Homecoming Parade, and we want to continue this important community event while maintaining the safest environment possible for everyone involved,” Mark wrote in a statement to the Centre Daily Times. “We feel eliminating the large trucks and reducing the number of participants will accomplish that goal.”
State College’s district changed its homecoming parade route in 2023 after borough officials and State College Police Department raised safety concerns. Now, the homecoming parade starts from the school heading west on Westerly Parkway before winding through a few neighboring streets and returning to State High.
It’s not yet clear when the district will host its 2025 homecoming events, but the festivities are usually held in mid-October. According to MaxPreps, State High’s only home game in October will arrive when the Little Lions host Central Dauphin East on Oct. 10.
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