Sunny skies and 65 degree weather were the perfect setting for the large crowd in attendance at Friday afternoon’s 2021 Bradford Area High School Homecoming Parade.
After a year’s hiatus due to Covid-19 concerns, the parade began with flashing lights from a Bradford City Police cruiser with melodies from the Bradford Area High School Marching Band filling the Main Street corridor. Following the police cruiser the Color Guard performed to the band’s melody while flashing colorful tinsel circles of red and black.
Due to continuing concern pertaining to the potential for Covid-19 outbreaks, this year’s parade was limited to six student floats and Homecoming Queen candidates traveling with their escorts. And although no candy was dispersed from the floats this year, all elementary school children in the district received Homecoming treats at school on Friday.
One of the aforementioned elementary school students, Krysalyn, who sat patiently waiting for the parade to begin with her younger sister and family, stated she was most excited to see “my older sister’s float with Tinkerbell” because she had heard so much about it at home the previous week but had yet to lay her eyes upon it.
Following the Marching Band, the first float to be debuted was built and populated by the High School Cheerleaders, featuring Pixie Hollow and fairies from the Disney classic Tinkerbell. The ensuing freshman float, followed along with this year’s float theme of “Children’s Movies,” with the setting and characters from animated Walt Disney 2002 film Lilo & Stitch, while the sophomore class showcased the theme from Pixar’s Coco.
The students were all very proud of their floats this year, especially since they did not have the opportunity last year to partake in the time-honored Fall tradition. “Getting to put together this float was the greatest,” stated BAHS freshman Dani Ordiway. “It was really awesome to get to see my classmates’ creative ability.”
Interspersed between the Marching Band and class floats, convertible cars transported the impeccably dressed and smiling Homecoming Queens with their escorts for the evening.
The junior class showcased their float decorated to match the theme and unique characters from the Disney movie Toy Story series. The next float to travel down Main Street, built by this year’s graduating BAHS senior class featured characters from the 2009 Pixar film, Up, with what appeared to be hundreds of balloons attached to the roof of a playhouse. A group of seniors from the float relayed to the Era that putting together this year’s float was “fun but very bittersweet,” since it would be their last.
Completing this year’s Homecoming parade was the Pennsylvania Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) float decorated to emanate another Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast.
“It was really excellent and exciting to see the cooperation and teamwork these students’ displayed while putting together these fantastic floats,” said Bradford Area School District official Ken Coffman. “All of the students worked exceedingly hard this week, many with little to no experience building a float (due to last year’s cancellation), and it truly showed.”
Later in the evening on Friday the Bradford Owls football team faced off against the DuBois’ Beavers.
