GILROY
– Before the pigskin is tossed and the high school gridiron gets
grungy, Gilroy royalty will cruise through town Friday.
GILROY – Before the pigskin is tossed and the high school gridiron gets grungy, Gilroy royalty will cruise through town Friday.
At 3 p.m., floats, cars, and the school marching band will depart from the student parking lot at GHS en route down Princevalle, Eighth and Orchard streets in the annual homecoming parade. Gilroy High Activity Director Jack Daley said about 20 cars will join the five floats that students have prepared for the event.
“This year we have a classic car club on campus, so we have more decorated cars than before,” Daley said.
The classic cars figure to tie in well with the theme of this year’s homecoming festivities, classic movies.
Seniors will put together a float in keeping with the movie “Jaws.” Homage will be paid to “The Wizard of Oz” by the junior class, while “Peter Pan” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” will be remembered by sophomores and freshman, respectively. The Gilroy chapter of the Future Farmers of America is dedicating their float to the swine story “Babe.”
“I guess it depends a little on what your definition of ‘classic’ is,” quipped Daley regarding the movie choices.
Grand marshals for the parade are GHS English teacher Kim Limos and ROP criminal justice teacher Craig Martin, who doubles as one of the varsity football coaches. Limos and Martin were selected as marshals by the student body. Daley said marshals are chosen based on their school spirit and their commitment to helping students.
“It’s a nice honor and they’re both deserving,” Daley said.
The 3 p.m. parade will be preceded by a pep rally held in the Gilroy High football stadium at noon Friday. The royal court will be introduced at that time along with senior football players and athletes from other fall sports programs.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. as the Mustangs will take on the Salinas Cowboys.
Before the game, the court of princes and princesses will be introduced and accompanied by their class floats. At half-time, the court will receive their tiaras and crowns and a senior king and queen will be announced. The senior class selects two princes and princesses; the entire student body votes for the final king and queen from those choices.
After the game, the GHS gym will turn into disco central as the annual homecoming dance will run until midnight.
“The atmosphere has been good on campus. There’s been a lot of participation in the dress up days this week,” Daley said. “It’s been a long week. The kids have been working on their floats until 8 o’clock each night and (tonight) they’re allowed to work until 10:30.”
