North Texas Daily

Steven James / Staff Writer

Hundreds of UNT students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters gathered Saturday around different parts of campus and the Denton Square for UNT’s 2014 Homecoming Parade.

This year’s Homecoming theme was The Greatest Homecoming on Earth – Mean Green Circus. Many of the floats, especially those by UNT fraternities and sororities, were built to match the theme. Most of the people on the circus floats dressed as clowns and ringleaders.

“It was a relaxing day to just come out here with my friends and my dog,” media arts senior Gabby Gonzalez said. “It was a really beautiful day, and the atmosphere was real peppy.”

The parade started at the intersection of Hickory and Welch with participants marching towards the Denton County Courthouse Museum, while also travelling by Oak Street, back onto Hickory, then North Texas Boulevard and ending at the Gateway Center.

Participants began marching at 1 p.m. More than an hour before the event, people began saving seats on the parade route to see certain floats and marchers.

“Some of my hall residents are here,” said psychology junior Cristal Aldrete, who also works as a resident hall employee. “I really enjoyed the festivities.”

Officers of the Denton Police Department led the march, followed closely by the Denton High School Air Force ROTC, carrying banners. Next in the parade was a Denton Fire Department fire truck, UNT Cheerleading and the UNT Green Brigade Marching Band, with some members dancing while marching to the cadence.

Sonic employees and others threw beads at the audience while on roller blades. Also among the parade participants were UNT President Neal Smatresk, the Homecoming Court, Frenchy’s Lawn and Tree Service, United Way of Denton County, Toys for Tots, Vietnam Veterans of America, Beth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, the Guyer High School marching band and a parade walker dressed as the Green Ranger from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.

Benjamin Eleine, 25, who is from Germany, said this is the first time he has ever been to a parade. He said he is currently staying in the area while on vacation.

“I don’t really know what Homecoming is,” Eleine said. “Something I wanted to do on my checklist while staying in America was going to an American parade.”