The Homecoming theme might change each year, but Saturday will begin with two annual traditions — a parade and pancakes.
The Moscow Fire Department will hold its annual pancake feed and safety fair fundraiser from 7 to 10 a.m. at the Moscow Fire Station. After the feed and fundraiser, the University of Idaho will hold its annual Homecoming parade. Cars and floats will roll through town, beginning by The Corner Club and continue down Main Street at 10 a.m.
“We encourage people to come and eat breakfast before the Homecoming parade,” said Joe Williams, captain of Moscow Fire Department.
The breakfast was donated by UI and includes pancakes and Vandal sausage that will be served by fire department volunteers. The cost of the breakfast is $5 for adults and $3 for children, which can be paid at the door, Joe Williams said.
“About 20 firefighters from our department are students that attend UI,” Joe Williams said. “There has always been a joint effort between UI and the Moscow Fire Department to have the pancake feed before the parade,” Joe Williams said.
The event also includes a safety fair, which has booths from local government agencies such as The Red Cross and the Moscow Police Department, Joe Williams said.
“The money we get from the pancake feed goes toward a scholarship for members of the Moscow Fire Department,” Joe Williams said.
Scott Williams, Moscow Fire Department safety training officer, said in the past they have had good attendance at the pancake feed.
“We usually end up seating three to four hundred people,” Scott Williams said. “It is greatly supported by the community.”
The morning events continue with UI’s annual Homecoming parade, which has been one of the main events of Homecoming for more than 100 years.
“Homecoming and its parade has been a tradition since it started in 1909,” Katie Dahlinger, assistant director of Alumni Relations said. “The parade receives great attendance from both the Moscow community and UI.”
Although the parade has generally been the same for some time, Dahlinger said it still maintains the all around support from the Moscow community and UI.
Tayler Marshall, Homecoming committee chair, said attending the parade is a great way to transition into the game later that afternoon.
“The parade is something fun to do before the game and it gets people pumped up for Vandal football,” Marshall said. “It’s nice to have the parade supported by the campus community as well as the Moscow area, and it is just one of the great traditions that UI gets to have every year.”
Nathan Miller, chair of the Homecoming parade, said a lot of preparation goes into setting up the event.
“We work with the Moscow City Council to get permits that allow us to block parts of Main Street,” Miller said. “We also work with online specialists to make sure the online applications are working correctly and local dealerships for car and truck donations for areas of the parade.”
Miller said he expects parade attendance to be as successful as it has been in previous years, and that floats can apply to enter the parade until today.
So far, 92 float entries have been accepted and the parade is one of the most anticipated events of Homecoming, Miller said.
“I am really excited for the Viva los Vandals theme, it will be fun to see what the float entries come up with,” Miller said. “This is a valued tradition on-campus and within the Moscow community and it allows everyone to take part in the UI Homecoming celebration,” Miller said.