The Perry High School Homecoming Parade 2018 raised the spirits of the crowd lining Willis Avenue Wednesday evening and filling downtown Perry with school spirit.
King and Queen candidates were given places of honor in the procession. The winners will be crowned tonight at 8 p.m. in the PHS gym during a pep rally and ceremony. A bonfire will follow immediately afterward at the Perry Athletic Complex.
Coordinated by the Perry Chamber of Commerce, the parade featured both the Perry Middle School band and the PHS Blue Brigade, with the Bluejay football team walking the route. Many students groups were represented, including green-swathed paraders from St. Patrick Catholic School, a long line of PACES students following longtime PACES Director Mary Hillman and many other.
A number of Perry’s local businesses and service clubs had entrants in the parade, with the Raccoon Valley Bank’s float, “Extinguish the Comets,” voted most creative. The Optimist Club also made a resptable appearance.
Hy-Vee catered a meal of hot dogs and loin sandwiches at a barbeque at Warford and Second streets, with the proceeds supporting the junior class prom committee. The meal proved quite popular, with a line 50-deep for the better part of 30 minutes.
While some ate, the Bluejay gridders signed team posters, footballs and t-shirts outside Raccoon Valley Bank. The public was asked to vote for their favorite class float by placing a Skittles candy in one of four mason jars, with members of each class standing by and urging a vote for their float.
Perry (0-3) entertains North Polk (2-1) at Dewey Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Bluejays defeated the Comets, 38-31, in double overtime last season.
