The annual homecoming parade is scheduled for Sept. 18, and the SCASD teams are ready to rock down the road of Westerly Parkway. The parade consists of mostly sports teams and clubs competing to win the award for best parade float.
Starting with an amazing show, the swim team will be creating their float based on The Greatest Showman, wanting to give State College a fun and energetic experience as they drive in the parade.
Senior Sydney Barshinger explained their choice. “We decided to be like something that people enjoy watching and looking at,” she said.
Barshinger also shared how the entirety of their float was created through teamwork and inclusivity, with everyone from the team pitching in their ideas for the float, and then working together to create their circus on wheels. “Everyone gets to feel like they’re carrying their own weight without feeling too restricted,” Barshinger said.
Barshinger also believes the parade is an opportunity to show pride for the team. She knows that swimming may not be as popular a sport compared to the other sports the school has to offer, but that doesn’t stop the team from showing their love of swimming and advocating for it. “It’s pretty exciting because swimming isn’t really a known sport; it’s not watched as much as football or basketball, so it’s nice to be able to represent our team,” Barshinger said.
On the other hand, the girls’ soccer team wanted to do something a lot sweeter. They are making a Willy Wonka-themed float that will be packed with Wonka bars and familiar characters played by the juniors and seniors.
As the chocolate factory is in the midst of construction, the girls work on their costumes as well.
“The majority of people work on their costumes individually; we made the golden tickets and the Wonka costumes from scratch,” Leila Crandall, a senior on the girls soccer team, said.
Crandall also noted the benefits of float building. “It’s like a team building exercise, because everyone on our team, even though our team is about 50 girls, we’re able to all come together and spend time with each other aside from on the soccer field,” Crandall said.
Another float featured will be field hockey with their theme ‘If the Shoe Fits in 2026’. The team will be dressed up like the princesses from well-known Walt Disney movies.
Reagan Dare, a sophomore on the team, explained how the upperclassmen have taken initiative and set a plan to try to earn this year’s best homecoming float award.
“The upperclassmen gave us all jobs. People are doing construction, painting, a bunch of different jobs were distributed to all of us,” Dare said. Different groups have been able to complete projects to all come together into a fantasy fairy tale parade float.
Dare shared her excitement for the homecoming parade, explaining how she and the team can’t wait to see the younger kids react to their float. The team has been working together, showing their capabilities in teamwork, and building a strong community within the team. “It builds fun energy, and it transfers onto the field,” Dare said.
Aside from the lighthearted competitive pressure that comes with creating a float, teams are excited for the parade, enjoying the company of all of their teammates, sharing smiles and showing their hard work and dedication off the field and out on the roads.
So as the parade begins, look out for all of the floats and decorations this year offers, because teams are eager to show off their work for the 2025-2026 school year.
