“Originally we wanted to build Sparty in the place of Atlas, but we used the football player instead,” explained SAF co-director and anthropology junior Shannon Skibinski. “We thought that the Atlas theme would tie into ‘Spartan Pride Worldwide’ pretty well.”

Floats aren’t the only thing cruising the parade route. Decorated cars, banners and groups will also join the entourage.

“There are 157 entries,” said Sharon Radtke, assistant director of special programs for the MSU Alumni Association. “Ninety of these are student entries, which is up from past years.

“We have about 20 entries from East Lansing High School, because it’s their Homecoming too, and the remainder are community floats, banners, community groups and VIPs.”

The parade will be led and paced by a 2003 Cadillac BCS that’s never been seen by the public. Two New York City firefighters and two New York City policemen will join the line-up as honored guests.

And besides being a Homecoming tradition, the parade will serve as a competition of sorts. Entries will be judged in three categories: best float, best banner and best group.

“We look for originality, Spartan spirit and theme,” said Oumatie Marajh, assistant director for the Department of Student Life and a coordinator of the parade’s judging. A panel of eight community members, such as City Manager Ted Staton and State News Editor In Chief Mary Sell, will judge the entries.

The parade begins at 6 p.m. at the intersection of Abbott Road and Burcham Drive, will go east on Grand River Avenue and south on Bogue Street. The parade ends at IM East with a fireworks display, performance by the Spartan Marching Band and an awards presentation for the best floats.