Continuing in last year’s footsteps, the Homecoming parade will be the only Homecoming event to have a theme.

Misty Spainhower, alumni relations officer, said this year’s Homecoming parade theme is “ACU’s Greatest Hits.”

“The floats will be focused on unique ACU traditions, landmarks and people,” Spainhower said.

Samantha Adkins, senior alumni relations officer, said the alumni office tries to keep the parade theme ACU related so the floats will be meaningful to alumni and their families.

Because of last year’s decision to nix the overall theme and only have a theme for the parade, no other event will be designed around “ACU’s Greatest Hits.”

Adkins said in years past, the parade was one of the only events completely surrounded by the theme, but other events, such as the reunion dinners and carnival, did not rely as much on the theme.

Jama Cadle, assistant director of alumni relations, said the Homecoming theme used to tie into the Homecoming musical.

“The theme used to go along with whatever the musical theme was, so we used to kind of tie it together,” Cadle said. “It didn’t always correlate with some of the decorations for the events. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t.”

This year’s parade theme, though unrelated to any other Homecoming event, has still stirred up excitement among students.

Abigail Flournoy, GATA float director, said she has been planning the float decorations since the summer, but the construction of the float, costumes and working on choreography for the parade began last week.

“I was so excited about this year’s theme,” said Flournoy, junior speech pathology major from Corpus Christi. “There is so much you can do with it, and it has provided a great opportunity to really show pride for everything that embodies ACU.”

Flournoy is looking forward to Saturday when the float is finished and on display for the parade.

“The most rewarding part of this process will be seeing the result of all of the hard work GATA and the Flames have put into our float on Saturday morning,” Flournoy said. “Everyone has such pride for this club and for our theme, so seeing everything come together will be so much fun.”

The prizes are :

Men’s and women’s Purple category for 50+ members will be a $200 prize

Men’s White category for less than 50 members will be a $100 prize

First Place Non-Club is a $200 prize

Sportsmanship is a $100 prize

Best Use of Theme is a $100 prize