Howard Payne University’s Homecoming parade will be the longest in known history at HPU, with more than 40 floats featuring entrants from campus and the community. The parade is scheduled for this Saturday at 10 a.m. New this year, HPU’s Homecoming will also feature Bonfire and Fireworks on the Bayou. This event begins 9 p.m. Friday at Riverside Park in Brownwood.
“HPU is extremely grateful for the support we’ve received from the Brownwood community throughout the years,” said Stephen Sullivan ’11, MBA ’14, director of development and alumni relations. “The entire community is invited to attend these events as we celebrate Homecoming 2016.”
The Homecoming parade will follow the same route as last year. Beginning at Brownwood Coliseum, the parade will travel north on Baker St., turn left onto Center Ave., move across Austin Ave. and enter the HPU campus. The procession will end in front of HPU’s Doakie Day Art Center on Center Ave. The best areas to view the parade are downtown and on campus along Center Ave. Rick Phelps of Victory Life Church in Brownwood helped coordinate the parade which is sponsored by Bruner Auto Group.
Friday evening’s bonfire will be built on a steel 8-foot-by-8-foot raft that will float on Pecan Bayou. The steel for the raft was donated by Sweetwater Steel in Early and the raft was constructed by Ricky Brooks of Kool Kreations Custom Boat Docks at Lake Brownwood. The HPU men’s soccer team collected the wood that will be used for the bonfire, which will be lit by a flaming arrow shot by HPU senior Ivy Nichols of Richardson. Following the bonfire, an exciting, 15-minute fireworks show will light the night sky. The fireworks are made possible by a generous donation from an anonymous donor to HPU.
In addition to the bonfire and fireworks, various HPU student organizations will provide games and activities at Riverside Park during the events. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and snacks for this event. No alcoholic beverages are permitted.
A complete schedule of Homecoming events is available online at www.hputx.edu/homecoming.
Pictured above is a map of HPU’s Homecoming 2016 parade route.