How to Organize a Homecoming Parade

Excitement fills activities associated with a homecoming parade. Stress and anxiety occur when homecoming festivities fall short due to poor planning. Organize a homecoming parade by modeling the event after other successful parades, and keep parade plans on track by contemplating these recommendations.

Instructions

1. Connect with people who have successfully organized homecoming parades in the past. Tap their experience and learn from their challenges. Talk to members of previous homecoming committees, student body officers and faculty members who served as liaisons to these individuals.

2. Assemble a committee of people interested in organizing the parade. Keep the members diverse in factors such as age, gender, ethnicity and experience. In other words, make sure the committee consists of students as well as staff that are culturally diverse men and women with different levels of homecoming expertise.

3. Form sub-groups within the committees. Consider sub-groups for the homecoming theme, decorations, the court, dance, pep rally, the parade route including security and traffic, parade floats, finances, public relations and other necessary sub-committees.

4. Develop a time line to track activities that begin with initial planning and end with the actual event. Take ample time to formulate this important step. Put precise and clear instruction into the time line such as specific committees performing particular tasks by designated completion dates. Contemplate developing a master time line with time frames personalized for each sub-committee.

5. Build a budget into the homecoming plans. Track money needed and used when organizing a homecoming parade. If possible, begin raising funds for the festivities about a year prior to the event. Consult with members of previous homecoming events for first-hand knowledge of budgetary requirements.

6. Evaluate the event. Set up various levels of assessment including evaluation before, during and after homecoming. Consider evaluating the sub-committees to find out what worked well and what needs improving. Assessing a homecoming parade leads to an organized event.