Edinboro Homecoming: The Parade

As reported previously, the annual homecoming parade had a new route this year. My wife and I walked to the greens behind McComb Fieldhouse for the President’s Brunch on the Lawn. As usual we greeted old friends and acquaintances and enjoyed a brunch of sweet roles, fruit, and scrambled eggs. Fortunately, the day was perfect for the event, sunny, with a touch of Autumn after the first frost of the season. Following brunch, we walked to the west side of Mallory Lake and sat on a bench facing the lake that has a full panoramic view of the campus and parade route. A small, single engine plane circled overhead straining for a view of the event, and looking for attention. People lined the campus loop at predictable spots: the corners and turns, next to the bridge over the campus stream, and in front of favorite buildings. A good crowd was on hand.

The parade started and it was fascinating to watch from a distance with an observer’s vantage point. The Color Guard led the event follow by the president’s vehicle, and the Edinboro University Marching Band. The roar of the Zem Zem motorcycles was missing, but the acrobatic antics of the girl’s gymnastic class doing cartwheels down the street was fascinating to watch. Soon, the cars with homecoming king and queen appeared, the alumni band showed their stuff, the comic book themed floats appeared, the General McLane Band dazzled, and the parade carried on with color and noise.



Before the parade ended, we decided to walk downtown along the old parade route to see how much different things were. The quiet emptiness was startling to one used to the crowded byways, but most unusual was the lack of business at the bars and the noticeably un-rowdy streets.

The community got what they wanted, less cost and responsibility. Downtown, the merchants will probably still do a good day’s business. As for Edinboro University, the spacious and beautiful campus became the focus of the event. Alumni will have their say, but my guess is that this was the first of many campus loop parades to come.