Signal Mountain High School Eagles football players walk in a previous year’s homecoming parade.The community is invited to prepare to cheer on the Signal Mountain High School Eagles at their homecoming game against Giles County, being held at the school’s football stadium Friday, Oct. 21, by watching or participating in the homecoming parade.
Set for Thursday, Oct. 20, the parade will begin at Signal Mountain Town Hall at 6 p.m. and run down Taft Highway to SunTrust Bank.
“I think that it’s such a wonderful community event to bring people together,” said Julie Novak, event chairwoman for the Signal Mountain Middle/High School Sports Boosters. “It makes Signal Mountain what it is; it’s such a precious thing to have a sense of community and want to come out to support all the kids, whether yours are involved or not.”
The parade will be followed by a pep rally with the football team and cheerleaders in the Pruett’s parking lot.
“It’s very short, and a good way to send people off for the evening,” Novak said of the pep rally.
The Sports Boosters encourage any community or school-related organizations, such as local sports teams, Scout troops and businesses, to enter floats in the parade.
“We would love to have community groups not necessarily associated with the school,” said Novak, who estimated around 40 floats participated in last year’s parade.
The only requirement is that the group have a driver who is 21 or older, she said.
Float applications are available on the school’s website. The fee is $20 per float. Novak explained that the fees solely cover the cost of insurance necessary to hold the parade.
The deadline to submit an application to participate is Monday, Oct. 10.
Starting at 5 p.m. the day of the parade, in order to avoid traffic issues, participants should be dropped off at Thrasher Elementary School, from which there will be a shuttle to transport them to Town Hall. Kids can be picked up at the grassy area near SunTrust following the parade, said Novak.
Parade applications are available at smmhs.hcde.org.