AMHERST — Homecoming Day at the University of Massachusetts will begin with a parade through downtown Amherst Saturday morning.
The sixth annual parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on University Drive, travels east on Amity Street and then north along North Pleasant Street before ending at the Haigis Mall off Massachusetts Avenue.
UMass spokesman Larry Rivais said students and residents are encouraged to line the route of the parade, which will last for about an hour.
The parade will feature the Minuteman Marching Band, the UMass Amherst dance team and cheerleaders, nearly a dozen floats, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, and members of the Amherst Select Board will be aboard the Amherst Business Improvement District trolley.
The floats have been designed by various groups on campus, including the UMass Amherst Libraries, Homecoming Royalty Court and Greek Life and Registered Student Organizations.
Several streets in Amherst will be closed during the parade.
Though kickoff of the football game between the Minutemen and Tulane University is not until 3:30 p.m., Rivais said the parade is held several hours earlier so that it does not have an impact on fans traveling to the stadium for the game and pregame festivities.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
