Homecoming 2025

We're excited for Homecoming 2025, which is set for Friday, October 3rd at Willard Schools! The theme for this year is Surfside Showdown.

Students will enjoy a half day full of Tiger Pride with our annual district-wide Homecoming Parade through Willard featuring a float from each school, and many from our clubs and organizations at WHS and WMS.

Our community is invited to join in the excitement and view the parade from the East Center Parking lot. The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. and should wrap up around 10:45 a.m. Please prepare for Jackson Street to be blocked off during this time from all directions, as well as Mill and Miller Road.

We look forward to seeing you at Tiger Stadium for Homecoming Festivities beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the crowning of our Homecoming King and Queen. Kickoff against Neosho is at 7:00 p.m.!

Float Participation

If you plan to participate in the parade, please fill out the Float Registration Form at your earliest convenience, and no later than September 25th. For guidelines pertaining to approved floats, reference our Homecoming Parade Float Description Form.

Please Note: Floats will enter into the high school from O HWY > Roar Road > Behind Ag Building > Circle into band lot.

Homecoming Parade Float Description

Homecoming Parade Float Description

Regarding entries in the Homecoming Parade, a Float will be deemed any vehicle that transports or tows a trailer including decorations and/or people with at least four tires. Vehicles such as motorcycles or scooters are strictly prohibited.

The following is a list of guidelines and expectations for those wishing to participate in the Homecoming Parade:

Floats will be decorated with a sign that is appropriate and at least half of the length of your trailer with the name of organization to designate who is on the float. Floats shall be secured on the bed of either a pick-up truck, flatbed, or registered trailer and shall not exceed a height of 10 feet (measured from ground level), and shall be no more than 6 feet wide. Multi-level floats are not permitted. The finished float and decorated areas should have no sharp or unfinished edges exposed. Float decorations shall be designed to allow the driver clear vision to the front and sides of the float or tow unit. Drivers shall also have view of (or communication with) float riders in the event of a problem on the float.
Towing Vehicle - Vehicles pulling floats shall be registered and inspected and have proof of insurance. It is the responsibility of each driver to ensure that his/her vehicle and trailer comply with all applicable Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) regulations. This includes lights of trailers being connected to the towing vehicle if applicable. Floats and participants shall not exceed the maximum load capacity of the trailer and towing vehicle.
Sound Expectations – Noise and amplified music shall be at an appropriate level (should not overpower another float or bystanders) and should include lyrics that are not offensive and are in good taste.
Riders –All participants riding on floats shall have a secure sitting or standing arrangement with hand holding onto a part of the secured float. There shall be no free standing participants without holding onto a secured part of the float or vehicle. No person shall be wired or tied to the float. No rider may be located where they might fall beneath the float, its wheels, or between tow vehicle and float. No more than five people should be in the bed of any pickup truck. In addition, riders are to remain on the float once they depart from the granite pillars. Climbing on and off the float while it is in motion is not permitted. Riders will depart the float once they reach the football field parking lot.
All float applications must be submitted online by the designated date. Only floats with applications will be allowed to participate in the parade.

If your organization fails to meet any of the 5 requirements listed above, you will not be able to participate in the parade.

Floats will be judged and the top 3 will be considered Best of Parade. Criteria for judging will be as follows:

Use of theme: either the homecoming theme or your organization

Float Registration Form

Spirit Week

Spirit week will take place during the week of Homecoming, starting on Monday, September 29. The spirit days are as follows:

Monday: Lei'd Back (PJ Day)
Tuesday: Flip Flops & Tank Tops
Wednesday: Teen Beach Movie (Bikers vs Surfers)
Thursday: "Tide" Dye Thursday
Friday: Surfside Showdown (Hawaiian)

Parade Information

The Homecoming Parade is the only event in the entire school year where all 4,200 Willard Tiger students are together in the same place, at the same time!

We ask that you take extra caution if you're near our parade route as we create this memorable experience for our Willard staff and students. As you can see on the parade map, the yellow line represents the parade route.

Our community is invited to join in the excitement and view from the East Center Parking lot. The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. and should wrap up around 10:45. Please prepare for Jackson Street to be blocked off during this time from all directions, as well as Mill and Miller Road.

Thank you to our community, Willard PD, Willard Fire, and our incredible staff for taking the extra effort to keep our kids safe while they cheer on the Tigers!

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