WSSU homecoming parade to kick off weeklong celebration with new date, route
Registration open through Oct. 11 for parade participants
The Winston-Salem State University Homecoming Parade will have a new look this year — in both its route and date.
Serving as the official kickoff of WSSU Homecoming Week, the parade will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1. The route will begin at Research Parkway and Fifth Street, turn left onto Rams Drive, left on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and end on Cromartie Street. For the complete parade route, click here.
The changes to this year’s parade are tied to the timing of homecoming and other events taking place across the region.
WSSU’s homecoming is typically held earlier in the season, but this year’s celebration will culminate Nov. 7 when the Rams host the Fayetteville State University Broncos at Bowman Gray Stadium.
The university weighed several factors, including the Carolina Classic Fair, High Point Market and other area homecomings, before choosing a date that would best position WSSU to deliver the homecoming experience alumni, students and the community have come to expect.
Chancellor Bonita J. Brown emphasized at a homecoming town hall meeting this summer that the parade changes are not intended to be permanent.
“But I do think it provides us with an opportunity to try something different,” Brown said. “Some people think it’s exciting to be able to kick off the week with a parade, and so we’re going to try it this year.
“We connected with some of our community partners that typically participate in the parade to see if that change would prevent them from participating,” Brown continued. “By and large, they were supportive and still plan to join us.”
Regarding the new route, Dr. LaMonica Sloan Wilhelmi, deputy chief of staff, said Research Parkway’s openness and sightlines make it well suited for a parade.
“We believe we’re inviting the community to be part of the heart of the campus,” she said.
Dr. Bomani H. Spell, associate provost and vice chancellor for student affairs, agreed. “Even though the logistics of this year’s parade may have changed some, WSSU still plans to bring energy to the students, alumni and the community and provide another outstanding homecoming parade just as people expect from us,” he said.
The parade will feature the excitement and traditional elements of previous homecoming processions, with WSSU’s Red Sea of Sound headlining the musical entertainment. It will also feature Brown and First Gentleman Wesley Brown, elected officials, high school bands and floats representing individuals and organizations.
Those interested in participating in the parade can register here. Registration closes Oct. 11. Final route details and participant instructions will be communicated as part of the pre-parade information provided.
After the parade, which is expected to last about two hours, attendees can head to Bowman Gray Stadium for the Lighting of the Sign ceremony, which will be held there this year rather than on the Intramural Field.
“The goal is to partner with athletics,” said Dr. Shawn Odom, associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students. “They use the LED lights that turn different shades of white, so we anticipate doing a preview of the new lights. It’s going to start at 5 p.m., so by the time people finish with the homecoming parade, they can come straight to Bowman Gray for the Lighting of the Sign, a perfect way to cap off the day’s festivities.”
The Lighting of the Sign provides an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and alumni to come together to kick off homecoming, Odom said. “There will be music, food trucks and stepper performances. As soon as it starts getting dark, we light up the sign. The cheerleaders perform, the band performs, and it’s a sacred WSSU tradition.
