UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Homecoming's annual parade celebrating Penn State pride and bringing together student, alumni, faculty and staff across the Unversity community will be held this year in a virtual, pre-recorded format on Friday, Oct. 16.
The parade will be featured on Penn State Homecoming’s social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as by clicking on the “Homecoming” icon in the Penn State Go app, downloadable from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Following COVID-19 restrictions and protocols set by the University, the Borough of State College and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Penn State Homecoming will be altering the format of the parade to accommodate the health and safety of students, alumni, faculty and members of the Penn State community.
“While this year’s Homecoming Parade may not follow its traditional format, the Parade Committee is working hard to unite the Penn State community as we work through this difficult and uncertain time,” said Penn State Homecoming Parade Director Katie Leipham. “We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to host a virtual parade and engage with our alumni, community, and students as we continue to celebrate Homecoming 2020.”
Several changes have been made to prioritize the health and safety of all Homecoming volunteers and participants. Much like in the past, Penn State Homecoming has invited organizations to participate and be featured in the parade. This year, student participants and performances were offered the option to be filmed by Homecoming volunteers. In addition, in order to reduce the number of outside visitors to campus, alumni and community participants were asked to submit a video of their own in place of in-person participation. These videos will be compiled to create a virtual Homecoming Parade experience.
All Homecoming volunteers and participants involved in the virtual parade are required to follow COVID-19 safety procedures, including masking and social distancing. Penn State Homecoming will continue to adhere to CDC, University, and Pennsylvania state guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the safety of all volunteers and participants involved in the virtual parade.
About Penn State Homecoming
Penn State Homecoming is a student-run organization that aims to celebrate tradition and instill pride in all members of the Penn State family through active engagement of students, alumni, faculty and staff across the community. Student volunteers donate their time to creating a multitude of events that make the Homecoming celebration a yearlong event. For more information, contact Elizabeth Grobinski, director of public relations, Penn State Homecoming, at prhomecoming@psu.edu.