Stake out a spot to watch Friday’s UI homecoming parade

IOWA CITY - Be part of the in crowd downtown Friday as more than 15,000 University of Iowa fans flock to the annual homecoming parade.

The parade is the ultimate Hawkeye celebration, with the Hawkeye Marching Band, high school bands, floats, walking groups and Hawkeye athletes sporting black and gold, getting fans pumped up for Saturday's 11 a.m. battle with the University of Illinois at Kinnick Stadium.

Parade goers should grab a lawn chair or blanket and stake out a spot early along the downtown parade route.

The parade begins at 5:45 p.m. on Gilbert Street, moves up Washington Street, turns onto Clinton Street, then Dubuque Street and makes a final turn onto Iowa Avenue, ending back at Gilbert Street.

The action moves to UI's Pentacrest at 8 p.m. for the homecoming king and queen coronation. A free concert featuring Scotland's rockers, CHVRCHES, follows.

CHVRCHES has had a whirlwind of success since its electronic synth-pop sound hit the Internet and then the airwaves in 2012. Its debut single, 'The Mother We Share,” made The Huffington Post's list of Top 52 Songs of 2012, and CHVRCHES ranked fifth on the BBC's Sound of 2013 list of the most promising new music talent. The trios is fresh off the Sept. 25 release of its sophomore studio album, 'Every Eye Open.”

For more information, go to homecoming.uiowa.edu.