Past and present MSU students and their families flooded the streets, closing Grand River Avenue from Abbot Road to Collingwood Drive.

The floats traveled from Abbot Road and Burcham Drive to Farm and Shaw lanes the night before the Homecoming football game against Iowa.

The parade was led by the Spartan Marching Band and MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon.

Tuba players Sanborn and Mau said they have been coming back and playing in the MSU Alumni Band since they graduated from MSU in 1986 because it’s always enjoyable and it is a chance to reconnect with old friends.

“This place means a lot to us,” Ortonville, Mich., resident Mau said.

Sanborn said the alumni band played the two versions of the MSU fight song and some other fun cheers.

He said about 300 alumni come back to play during halftime of the Homecoming football game.

“Just to reconnect with friends … this was where I belong,” Charlotte, Mich., resident Sanborn said.
East Lansing resident and 1968 alumnus Jon Stahl said he plans to make it to the parade for at least 10 more years.

“This is a family event for us,” Stahl said, sitting next to about eight members of his family watching the parade.

The Student Alumni Foundation, or SAF, float incorporated the upcoming election and Sparty’s presence in the MSU community.

The float included ‘vote for Sparty’ signs, the rock on Farm Lane, a replica of the Beaumont Tower and an interpretation of Mount Rushmore with the faces replaced with Simon, MSU athletics director Mark Hollis, football head coach Mark Dantonio and Sparty.

Kelsey Lash, interdisciplinary studies in social science senior and co-director of Spartan Ambassadors, helped create the SAF float and said it took more than 30 people working about six hours a day for four days to build the float.

“I think that our float encourages students to vote, (and) also have fun with it,” Lash said.
“Theming it around what’s taking place in the world … but also that we love Sparty.”

MSU teams, including men’s and women’s basketball, tennis and golf, appeared in the parade throwing candy to the audience. Student groups on campus and fraternity and sorority members also had floats.

East Lansing residents and alumni Frank and Connie Tuma met at MSU, and said they have been coming to the parade for more than 30 years.

“I think it’s good to blend MSU’s campus with the East Lansing community so they can be one, not two separate entities,” Connie Tuma said.

Lash said Homecoming demonstrates the amount of pride Spartans have for the university.

“It just brings the community together,” Lash said. “(It) prepares them for the Homecoming game (and) end the festivities of the week.”