Adeline Magen, 4, of East Lansing, plays with bubbles during Michigan State University’s homecoming parade along Abbot Road in East Lansing, Mich., on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026.
Chants of “Go Green” and “Go White” filled Grand River Avenue as the annual Michigan State University Homecoming Parade welcomed alumni, community members and students Friday.
The university’s 105th homecoming parade began near the East Lansing Hannah Community Center before traveling along Grand River Avenue to end on campus at the Red Cedar Bridge.
With over 1,000 attendees, people lined up along the parade route to cheer for the dozens of organizations representing clubs, alumni groups, sports teams, MSU administration and nearby schools.
U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, and congressional hopeful Will Lawrence were also present, as well as all members of East Lansing’s City Council.
Families staked out their spots with drink-filled coolers and tables of food while the MSU Ducks Unlimited Club could be heard performing duck calls all down Grand River Avenue. Children played in the grass outside of the Broad Art Museum where employees taught participants how to screen print their own MSU flag.
Leading the parade was MSU ROTC followed by MSU's cheer team and band chanting the MSU Fight Song.
On the curb, Neuroscience and psychology junior Marina Santos and friends took any flyer or piece of candy headed their way.
“I get really hyped for the band, it’s my favorite part,” Santos said. “Everyone is just so happy. I love how big the alumni community is at MSU, that’s really beautiful to me.”
Santos is no stranger to MSU’s Homecoming parade and is plotting on how to get in the parade for her senior year.
“I’m from Brazil, so I’d love to represent the Latino community here at MSU,” she said.
While MSU’s Homecoming parade is an annual festivity for many community members, for some, this marked the start of a new tradition.
MSU experience architecture freshman Seamus Waite attended the parade for the first time with his friends, clad in green and white. From the small town of Marquette, Michigan, Waite took a gap year before deciding to attend one of the largest universities in the United States.
“I’m in awe at the amount of people who come out every year,” Waite said. “It’s a great time and I’m excited to be a part of this community. It’s cool that everyone can get together and enjoy this every year.”
Waite marveled at the many opportunities and events MSU puts on for not only the students, but for the greater East Lansing area.
“People from all across the country come to this place and then they graduate, but that isn’t the end of that connection,” Waite said. “It’s nice to think that I can come back here when I’m older and still find community. The homecoming parade is just one thing that MSU does that shows that.”
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