NDSU invites the community to participate in Homecoming 2013 activities, many of which are scheduled Oct. 10-12.
The Homecoming parade and community pep fest are set for Friday, Oct. 11. Scheduled for 5:30 p.m., the parade will return to the downtown area, where it was held from 1922 to 1982. In addition, a pep fest for students, alumni and the public will follow the completion of the parade.
The parade route starts at the corner of NP Avenue and Broadway and moves along Broadway to 4th Avenue North. The parade will then go east to 4th Street North before turning south to 1st Avenue North.
The pep fest is scheduled to be held outside the Civic Center, located at 207 4th St. N., at 7 p.m.
Bus transportation and parking downtown
Free MATBUS transportation to and from downtown will be provided, starting at 3 p.m. The buses will run to and from the NDSU campus, Cash Wise, K-Mart and West Acres’ Roger Maris Wing.
Downtown parking is available in the Island Park Ramp and 3rd Street Lot, which will open at 3 p.m. Other lots, including the Civic Center Lot, the 2nd Avenue North Lot, 2nd Avenue South Lot, Third Avenue Lot, Radisson Ramp, 4th Street Lot and Main Avenue Lot, will open at 4 p.m. Parking in these lots will be free of charge.
Parking restrictions and road closures
There will be no parking in the staging area and along the parade route on Friday, Oct. 11, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. This includes NP Avenue from Roberts to 5th Street North, Broadway from Main to 4th Avenue North, along 4th Avenue from Broadway to 4th Street North and then 4th Street from 4th Avenue to 1st Avenue North. No parking signs will be posted on Thursday, Oct. 10, at approximately 7 p.m.
At 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, NP Avenue will be closed from Roberts Street to 5th Street. Broadway will be closed from Main to NP Avenue. Broadway from 1st Avenue North to NP Avenue will be open to local business only, not through traffic.
The parking lot by Old Broadway and Renaissance Hall will have a one-way lane out for people who need to leave; however, no new traffic will be allowed in.
At 4:30 p.m., the remaining barricades will be set up. The detour routes will be Roberts Street North and 2nd Street. Fifth Street will remain open for people needing to exit the parking lots in the downtown area.
Other Homecoming events
Other important Homecoming activities include NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani’s annual State of the University Address, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m., in Festival Concert Hall.
The Homecoming Show and Coronation is set for Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Blue Key Honor Society and Campus Attractions, the show will be held in Festival Concert Hall.
The Athletic Hall of Fame luncheon is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 11, at 11 a.m., at the Fargo Holiday Inn.
On Saturday, Oct. 12, many events are planned, including the Student Government 5K run at 8 a.m. The Minard Hall rededication festivities are scheduled for 9:30 a.m., and a series of specialty tours are set for 10-11 a.m. The NDSU Showcase interactive display is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon in the Memorial Union.
Tailgating for the Homecoming game begins at 8 a.m. and runs through 1 p.m. at the Fargodome. The Bison football team plays the Missouri State University Bears, with kickoff at 1 p.m.
For more information, a map of downtown activities and a complete schedule of events, visit www.ndsu.edu/homecoming/schedule.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.