NDSU’s upcoming Homecoming parade is expected to be a colorful, exciting communitywide celebration. At a news conference Sept. 11, campus and downtown organizers announced the parade route will return to Fargo’s downtown, and the change is expected to have a major economic impact.
Scheduled for Friday, Oct. 11, at 5:30 p.m., the parade will move north along Broadway, through the downtown as it did from 1922 to 1982. In addition, a pep fest for students, alumni and the public will follow the parade.
“It’s an exciting enhancement, an exciting opportunity to broaden what we think of as the university community. To reconnect those, as had been the case many decades ago, is very exciting to me,” said President Dean L. Bresciani. “We want to make the downtown area part of NDSU’s growing success, and we want our success to lead to success for our business community members in the downtown area.”
Bresciani described the parade route in downtown Fargo as a tremendous opportunity, a win-win scenario for everyone. He said it will bring positive publicity to the community and university.
“We think the tens of thousands of people who will potentially take part in this year’s Homecoming parade will have a huge impact on the businesses,” he said. “When those businesses are successful and thriving, NDSU’s campus community is successful and thriving.”
Lance Thorson of the Old Broadway said the new parade route is a welcome change. “We’re enthusiastic about the parade coming back downtown. It’s just great to have it back in the heart and soul of the community,” he said.
Cari Luchau, co-owner of c.lizzy’s, said the return to the traditional parade route is a great opportunity for retailers, restaurants and bar owners. She suggested the event might lead to other collaborations with NDSU during the rest of the year.
“We are very excited about the turn of events this year, with the parade returning to the downtown,” Luchau said. “We’ve got a beautiful, revitalized downtown Fargo and it’s really awesome timing that we’ve come back to re-energize that old tradition.”
A campus committee has been working to reach out to the community, encouraging the public to take part in the fun and excitement of the many events of NDSU’s Homecoming. The celebration, scheduled for Oct. 7-12, will showcase NDSU’s outstanding educational and research capabilities as well as its exceptional athletic teams.
Student body president Robbie Lauf said he is excited about the numerous changes that have been made for the Homecoming schedule. “I’m looking forward to it with enthusiasm. It will have a tremendous positive influence for the community, businesses and our students of the past, present and future,” he said. “It’s a great way to celebrate everything it is to be a Bison.”
For more information on NDSU Homecoming 2013 and a schedule of major events, visit www.ndsu.edu/homecoming/.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation’s top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.