High school chosen as new location for homecoming parade

A new route is planned this year for the Mercer Island High School homecoming parade. The streets around Mercer Island High School will be the new location, instead of downtown Mercer Island.

By Reporter Staff • October 10, 2011 3:44 pm
Mercer Island High School is the new location for the homecoming parade.
Mercer Island High School is the new location for the homecoming parade.

The annual Mercer Island High School homecoming parade will move this year.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21, along S.E. 42nd Street in front of the high school campus. The parade is usually held in the Town Center, where it begins at Mercerdale Park, goes north on 77th Avenue to S.E. 27th Street, then south on 80th Avenue S.E.

The reason for the change, school officials said, was scheduling. Changing the home football schedule to two home games in September, along with the Thursday night game on Oct. 6, made Oct. 21 the only date for homecoming and the traditional All-Island Band Night. Now homecoming will also include ‘Senior Night’ recognitions for the Islander football players and an important band fundraiser, the ‘Pizza Pig-Out.’

According to Craig Olson, acting principal of Mercer Island High School, city permit officials said the parade could not begin any earlier than 5:30 p.m. in the Town Center. Having the parade a half hour earlier would have allowed the students to return in time for the pizza fundraiser, he said.

The change will mean less parking and fewer parade viewing areas for those who attend.

All-Island Band night, with band members from fifth through eighth grades at Island schools, brings hundreds of extra band members who perform at halftime, along with their families, to the stadium. Parking will be at a premium due to the staging areas needed for floats and the 285-member marching band. Spectators are expected to primarily park along the side streets adjacent to the high school. Parade viewing will be limited to the sidewalk on the north side of S.E. 42nd Street and on school grounds between 91st and 92nd. Streets. According to Dean of Students, Jamie Prescott, the school will be distributing flyers to neighbors around the high school regarding the parade and parking.

Schedule:

• Parade begins at 5 p.m.

• ‘Pizza Pig-Out’ at 5:30 p.m.

• ‘Senior Night’ activities at 6:50 p.m.

• Football game against Sammamish High School begins at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, go to www.misd.k12.wa.us.