Placer High brings back homecoming parade with community celebration

The streets of Auburn will again be filled with floats, school spirit and marching students as the Placer High School Parents Club has revived the homecoming parade. The event is set for Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 5 p.m., following the same downtown route as the annual Christmas and Veteran's Day parades before ending at Ralph LeFebvre Stadium. According to Placer Parents Club President Stacey Mathison, the push to bring back the parade started when students expressed a desire for more excitement around homecoming. The parent club partnered with the leadership class, school administrators and district officials to make it happen. Planning has been underway since the spring, marking the school's first attempt at organizing a full-scale parade. The event will feature floats from every class, with students putting in hours of work to design and build them. The community will have the chance to vote on their favorite through QR codes posted along the parade route and again at the school. The winning float will be announced during the school's night rally following the parade, where class royalty will also be crowned. After the parade, there will be a barbecue fundraiser hosted by the parent club, giving families and community members the chance to gather, eat and view the floats up close. The parade will include participation from Placer's feeder schools, with elementary and middle school students from Auburn, Newcastle, Ophir and Bowman taking part. Organizers hope the inclusion of younger students helps build excitement for future Hillmen while strengthening ties across the community. The entire event is free to attend, with proceeds from the optional barbecue going toward future parent club projects throughout the school year.