On Oct. 4, Northwestern State University’s final day of 2025 Homecoming began with a homecoming parade followed by a pep rally, tailgate and homecoming football game. The parade featured floats from different organizations across campus, each one following this year’s theme of Broadway.
The parade started with performances from the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band and Northwestern State University’s spirit groups. Following them was the Homecoming Court, paired off in different vehicles and throwing a variety of objects to the crowd. The floats came next, blasting music and waving to the crowd of NSU students and members of the Natchitoches community.
Macie Stover, a freshman liberal arts major, was on the Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) float. All AOII members helped make their float, which was Hairspray themed. “I am a little biased, but Tri Sig’s [float] was absolutely beautiful,” Stover said. Her favorite part of the parade was “getting to see all the little kids and everybody excited to see us.”
In years past, the parade started on campus and traveled through downtown Natchitoches, though this year was different as the Natchitoches Classic Car show was also happening in town. As a result, the parade took place entirely on NSU’s campus, starting at Warren Easton Hall and ending at the tailgate field, where the pep rally took place.
The pep rally included performances from the cheer team, Demon Dazzlers, and the Purple Pizzazz Pom Line, as well as introducing the Homecoming Honor Court. The winners for the competitions between organizations, including the banners and floats, were announced as well.
Lola Meyn, a freshman production design major, attended the parade. Seeing the floats was her favorite part, especially Pi Kappa Alpha’s Grease-themed float. “I was looking forward to the floats, as I didn’t know what to expect, but they all turned out great,” Meyn said. “My favorite float was Pi Kappa Alpha’s, which had the spinning wheel in front of the float. I just thought it was so cool how they were able to do that.”
Liam Pachankis is a sophomore hospitality management and tourism major and member of Pi Kappa Phi. His favorite part of the parade was “definitely being able to throw stuff out of the float and give back to the community a little bit.”
“I enjoyed just staying up late [to make the float] and hanging out with my brothers, having a good time,” Pachankis said.
The parade and pep rally were the last of the week’s events before the homecoming football game that night, a last celebration for students, faculty and the community marking the 2025 Homecoming season.
