Coronado Homecoming parade in Old Colorado City for its 36th year Sept. 24

Coronado Homecoming parade in Old Colorado City for its 36th year Sept. 24

This was the girls softball float in the 2006 Coronado Homecoming Parade through Old Colorado City, with an Elvis Presley graphic in keeping with that year's "Viva Las Vegas" theme. The float vehicles are typically loaned for the event, and the students decorate them.

Westside Pioneer file photo

Back for at least one more year, the 36th annual Coronado High School Homecoming Parade will brighten up Old Colorado City Saturday, Sept. 24, starting at 10 a.m.
       Featuring often costumed, sometimes body-painted student participants - either on foot or transported by hand-decorated cars and trucks - the roughly 40 entries will proceed down Colorado Avenue from about 29th Street to Bancroft Park.
       That part of the avenue will be closed for the occasion. Concluding with a pep rally in the park, the event typically lasts a half-hour to 45 minutes.
       Coronado has held the parade in Old Colorado City since 1981, as part of a week of Homecoming-related activities. Vehicles are typically donated for the day, including pickup trucks and trailers for floats and the convertible Corvettes carrying members of Coronado's Homecoming Court.
       The pancake breakfast, a parade fundraiser, is scheduled from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the park pavilion. Volunteer students and staff will do the cooking. Update, 9/21/16: According to Coronado Principal Darin Smith, the meal offering has been changed to breakfast burritos, "made fresh by our Family and Consumer Studies students."

2005 was the first year for the Old Colorado City merchants' Giant Pumpkin event in Old Colorado City's Old Town Plaza, and it was on the same day as the Coronado Parade (though starting a few hours later). A photo taken from the plaza shows an early-arriving pumpkin in a pickup bed in the foreground with some parade festivities on Colorado Avenue in the background.

Westside Pioneer file photo

Event costs have become an increasing issue for the parade - nearly $8,000 this year for street barricades, police and city permits. In August, the school even considered moving the event to its parking lot before deciding to continue the Old Colorado City tradition another year while attempting to establish a long-term funding mechanism, Principal Darin Smith has said.
       In a time-related event, the Old Colorado City Library will host its annual Carnegie Day Ice Cream Social the same day, starting after the parade ends. The social will take place on the sidewalk in front of the library across Pikes Peak Avenue from the park. The ice cream is free. The event honors Andrew Carnegie, whose $10,000 donation allowed the library's construction in 1904.
       Update, 9/15/16: A book sale in conjunction with the ice cream had originally been announced, but it has been canceled. In its place will be a "book trike," giving away some children's books, according to OCC Library Supervisor Trish Blakely.
       An added Homecoming activity by the Coronado students this year will be a spirit bonfire on the school track Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. The Homecoming football game will be against Pueblo South at Garry Barry Stadium Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m., and the Homecoming Dance will be the night of Sept. 24.
       Because of the parade, the Bancroft Park Farmers Market will not be held Sept. 24.

Westside Pioneer article
(Posted 9/13/16, updated 9/21/16; Schools: Coronado High School)

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