Last-Minute Deal Moves Homecoming Parade Back Downtown

The Annual Homecoming Parade has moved back to the downtown Mercer Island route, according to a MIHS press release.

and the came to an agreement on Oct. 12 to move the parade start time to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21 and reinstate the route (click here to see a map/guide of the new parade route).

The revised — and more traditional — route begins at , heads north on 77th Ave. SE, turns right onto SE 27th St. heading east, makes another right onto 80th Ave. SE and continues south until SE 32nd St. where it will turn right and head west back to the starting point at the park.

MIHS Activity Coordinator Jamie Prescott — one of many hats the high school teacher and girls basketball head coach wears — originally announced on Oct. 11 that due to over-scheduling concern. This year's MIHS Homecoming Parade and festivities were scheduled on the same date as another beloved Islander tradition: .

"The reason we renegotiated the route and moved it back to the Town Center stemmed from community members contacting our Superintendent and the City Manager to express concern about the route change," Prescott said in response to an emailed inquiry. "Ultimately, our Superintendent (Dr. Gary Plano) and the City Manager (Rich Conrad) collaborated and devised a solution that allows the parade to return to downtown and in order to accommodate our band students we moved the start time to 4:30 p.m."

Prescott also gave several other reasons for the original change to limit the parade: The parade usually begins at 5:30 p.m.; only three Friday-night home games were scheduled (no explanation was offered for the Thursday, Oct. 6 home game); September was adjudged to be too early for Homecoming; The game is also Senior Night and honor 21 football team members; The marching band's biggest fundraiser, and the "Pizza Pig Out" is held on All-Island Band night and requires the presence of all bandmembers.

Several commenters on Mercer Island Patch expressed disappointment in the original plans to move the route out of downtown and had competing theories on why the scheduling mix-up occurred.

"Such a shame, seeing the band march through downtown MI has always been such a wonderful oppurtunity for the community who live and work on the island to see these amazing young musicians perfom," wrote Helen Taylor, who described herself as a "longtime band parent".

According to Prescott, this year’s theme is "Romecoming" – a celebration of Greek and Roman times. The parade includes the award-winning MIHS marching band, homecoming royalty, cheerleaders, drill team members, and floats built by MIHS students.

Students of all ages, staff, parents, and community members are encouraged to attend and line the aforementioned streets. The remaining Homecoming activities will remain unchanged:

Friday, Oct. 21, 2011:

• 5:30pm         Pizza Pig Out
  • Tickets are $5 presale, $7 at the door – contact

Parker Bixby @ Parker_Bixby@misd.wednet.edu or any MIHS music student for tickets)

• Football game tickets will be pre-sold at Pizza Pig Out
• 6:50pm         Senior Night Ceremony for senior football players in the MIHS

Stadium

• 7:30pm         Football Game vs. Sammamish High School
  • Halftime Show Includes:
    • All Island Band Night (700 MISD music students)
    • MIHS Homecoming Royalty Presentation
• As we expect a sell-out crowd, tickets will be available for pre-sale through the MIHS ASB office on Oct. 20 & Oct. 21 from 7:30am-2pm. Tickets are $6 adult, $4 children.

Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011:

• 9pm-12am         Homecoming Dance @ MIHS
  • Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door

For questions about the Homecoming activities or the parade route change, please contact MIHS Activity Coordinator, Jamie Prescott at: Jamie_Prescott@misd.wednet.edu