Thousands of Gator fans decked out in orange and blue lined University Avenue on Oct. 17 to watch the University of Florida’s annual homecoming parade.
As lounging spectators chatted with family and friends, waiting for the parade to begin, vendors walked the streets selling cotton candy cones and children tossed footballs in the street.
The parade kicked off at noon and showcased UF student groups, community organizations, local marching bands and homecoming week sponsors.
UF interim President Dr. Donald Landry served as the grand marshal.
Sherri Glynn attended the homecoming parade to see her daughter perform with the Gator marching band.
Glynn and her daughter Gianna traveled to Gainesville from Orange Park to watch the parade for the first time a few years ago. Their favorite part had always been the Gatorettes’ performance, she said. So much so that her daughter joined a baton troupe in high school.
Now, Gianna is performing in the parade as a Gatorette.
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UF alum Claire Mitchell was attending her fourth parade with her two children, who enjoy the floats and marching band performances every year and having something fun to do on their day off from school.
Mitchell was most excited to see what the university’s Surf Club would come up with for their float this year.
“The Surf Club has the best float every year, if they let me down this year, I’m going to be disappointed!” she exclaimed.
Almethia Deloris Marshall and her husband Neal Marshall are diehard Gator fans. They attended the parade almost every year, until Neal was hospitalized. This was the first time in two years they’ve been able to sit back, relax and take in the festivities.
The parade was part of a series of homecoming events that will take place before the Gators football game on Saturday against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The day began with a homecoming festival, followed by the Gator Gallop, a two-mile fun run across UF’s campus. Grammy-nominated artist Steve Aoki is scheduled to headline the 102nd annual Gator Growl at the O’Connell Center this evening.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: 2025 University of Florida Gators Homecoming Parade in Gainesville
