“Guys, we’re gonna get candy!”
Lyman Briggs freshman Shelby Newman shouted to her friends as they patiently waited at their spot on Grand River Avenue for the Homecoming parade to start Friday night.
Newman and her friends are freshmen, and they know all the words to the MSU’s fight song - and they made sure other spectators knew that by proudly belting it out and clapping as they waited to hear the Spartan Marching Band’s version.
With more than just a hint of fall in the air, families, alumni, students and MSU fans lined the streets as the more than 120 units supporting everything from political candidates to role playing groups marched along the parade route.
There also was an appearance from the green-skirted mascot, Sparty. He jumped off his personalized golf cart and broke out of the procession to take a quick photo with Newman and her friends.
“It’s just so fun here,” Newman said. “It’s amazing that all these people come out here to do this.”
The parade continued and Newman finally caught some candy from the groups, and the five girls continued to cheer as the elaborate floats and banners passed by.
Parade coordinator Sharon Radtke said the parade was easier to coordinate than past years.
“In the seven years I’ve been (coordinator), I think it went the most smoothly, mostly because of the volunteers,” she said. “Our biggest challenge was the weather.”
Although it began to sprinkle toward the middle of the day Friday, the rain held off, while temperatures were still chilly for spectators.
“There was a very good turnout,” she said. “Half of the groups in the parade were student groups, and that we were happy to see.”
Miguel Narvaez, a kinesiology graduate student, brought his family to the parade, for the past five years.
Narvaez said his favorite float was the one with the basketball players.
“It’s always eye-catching,” he said.
But the decision wasn’t so easy for his 9-year-old son, Miguel Jr.
“I think I liked them all,” he said. “I liked the marching band the most. I like how they play the trumpets and the drums.”
Other spectators enjoyed the bands as well.
“I like the bands because the band is what makes the parade,” no-preference sophomore Brittany Dugger said. But she changed her mind as she watched a float supporting the turf in the stadium, dragging a model football field behind it.
“I think that’s my favorite float,” she said. “They’re dragging a carpet.”
