parade

parade route

Map of Tennessee State University Homecoming Parade Route, starting at 14th Ave, passing John A. Merritt Blvd, with a judges' stand on 33rd Ave near Albion St, ending at 33rd Ave.

For more information, contact Dr. Eddie Cribbs

at 615-963-5883 or parade@tnstate.edu

STEP 1

Completely fill out the application form. Incomplete application will not be reviewed. Only one application (1) car or one (1) float per organization will be allowed to participate in the parade.

STEP 2

On a separate sheet of paper (8 1/2 x 11) draw your entry design and email it to parade@tnstate.edu. All entries MUST be theme related.

STEP 3

Please allow up to 14 business days after submission for approval. Note: All applications must include an entry design to be considered for the Tennessee State University 2026 Homecoming Parade.

STEP 4

Fees will be due no later than September 29, 2026. Payments are accepted via check, money order, or on-line payment. You can also pay with cash directly to the Tennessee State University Bursars Office located on campus in the Ned Ray McWherter Administration Building. Make certain to keep all receipts on file.

This year, all parade entries will be purchased based on the desired placement that you would like to have in the parade procession. Within each Tier, your placement will be determined by date of purchase.

Tier 1: Spots 1–20

Tier 2: Spots 21–40

Tier 3: Spots 41–60

Tier 4: Spots 61–80

$375.00
$275.00
$175.00
$75.00

Standard Late fee

$50.00

  • All participants must provide their own pulling mechanism and transportation (if applicable). The pulling mechanism must consist of a maximum of one motorized vehicle. A maximum of 30 people may be present on or around the float entry.

  • May consist of a maximum of 60 people on foot, person-powered, or vehicles (example: bicycles, big wheels, NO animals).

  • All Car and Float entries must be 75% decorated and must include the Homecoming theme. Failure to adhere to these rules or any other rules listed on the day of the event, will result in elimination from the parade without a refund.

    Additionally, you will forfeit one year of parade participation under any business or entity name.

  • NO alcoholic beverages or illegal substances will be allowed on or near the entries prior to or during the parade. If alcoholic beverages and/or illegal substances or their containers are found, or the person operating any type of vehicle (example: motorized, bicycles, etc.) is suspected of having consumed alcohol, the entry will be pulled from the parade. Police assistance will be used if necessary.

  • Entries may not display advertisement for alcohol or tobacco (examples: banners, logos, etc.) on their float.

  • All entries including children ages 12 and under will be required to have a ratio of one adult to every ten children.

  • Proceed to your assigned location in the parade staging area no later than 7:45 A.M. so that line-up can be positioned properly. The parade will begin at exactly 9:00 a.m. and the flow of entries will proceed according to the parade route and staging area maps.

  • DO NOT bring non-permitted vehicles into the staging area. Additional vehicles will delay the start of the parade and will be towed at the owner’s expense.

  • At the end of the parade route, please be considerate of those following you and clear the area quickly. Explicitly follow the direction of parade personnel.

  • All floats competing in the float competition will be judged by a panel of judges consisting of students, faculty, staff and community leaders. One float will be awarded “Best of Show” for fulfilling the requirements of TSU Spirit.

  • The committee has implemented a process which allows the performing entry to showcase their talents. There will be Parade Assistants along the parade route that will signal you to perform. You will have a maximum of 60 seconds to perform. After your 60 seconds The Parade Assistant will inform you that your time is up. The parade will move at a constant flow and will only stop in the event that the preceding entry stops. If any entry cannot proceed at any point during the parade, (i.e. mechanical breakdown, etc.) please exit the parade route at the nearest possible exit or move to the side of the parade route and immediately inform the next entry to continue around you.

  • Parade entries check-in will take place at 14th Avenue North and Jefferson Street in the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center parking lot 7:00am – 7:45am SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026.

    All entries MUST check-in NO LATER THAN 30-minutes PRIOR to the start of the TSU Homecoming Parade. Failure to do so may result in denying entry into the parade event.

  • The Homecoming Committee reserves the right to deny entry into the TSU Homecoming Parade to any parade entry that may pose a health/safety risk and/or deemed in offensive to the participants and the spectators of the Homecoming Parade.

  • Any behavior problems or disorderly conduct by parade participants along the parade route will result in elimination of parade entry. Failure to adhere to these rules, or any other rules listed on the day of the event, will result in elimination from the parade without a refund. Additionally, you will forfeit one year of parade participation under any business or entity name.