Block party replaces bonfire at end of homecoming parade

Fall sports are in midseason form, and that means Boulder City High School homecoming is right around the corner.

The homecoming parade will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 1 with the actual ceremony taking place at halftime of the Eagles' Oct. 2 game against Sunrise Mountain and the homecoming dance on Oct. 3.

The parade will get started on Fifth Street, near the school's parking lot. The BCHS band will lead off the festivities, followed by Principal Amy Wagner, then the floats that students of the school will make in the three days leading up to the event.

"(Homecoming) is huge," Wagner said. "The four classes will make the floats that week based on who we are playing — Sunrise Mountain Miners — and those will be built in the autoshop."

There will be a new twist in the parade this year, as the junior high school and two elementary schools will join in the festivities.

It is a first for the parade, according to Wagner, and the homecoming court will include a duke and duchess from one of the elementary schools.

As if homecoming isn't big enough, the Week of Respect also takes place during homecoming.

"The governor declared that week to be the Week of Respect where everyone will be kind, upstanding and take care of each other," Wagner said. "So we're doing something for that during homecoming week, as well."

There will be a change in the parade's end this year. Last year was the final year that the city would allow a bonfire to take place to signify the end of the night.

The fire department and Boulder City agreed to put an end to the bonfire for insurance and safety reasons.

The school, however, has come up with an alternative it thinks will please the crowd.

As the parade ends back at the school, a block party will begin, with a live band, DJ and food. Boulder City High graduate Ross LaMarca and the band he performs with, Walk Off Hits, have added a stop on their tour at the school to perform.

Walk Off Hits recently released its first album, "For the Love of the Game," and will be performing at the Life is Beautiful festival on Saturday. The group plays its unique blend of "funky, pop, rock and soul tunes."

"The city sponsors the event and the food is donated by Albertsons," said police officer Dave Krumm.

According to Wagner and Krumm, the parade will begin on Fifth Street, head to California Avenue where it turns left until Arizona Street, where it turns left again. The parade then travels along Arizona until Nevada Way, where it turns left, heading through the historic district, before traveling back down to Fifth, cutting off at Southwest Diner and turns left again. It ends on Avenue B at the block party in the parking lot northwest of the football field.

The event is exciting for all involved, and the students are looking forward to having a great weekend of food, football and friends.

"This is, like, the biggest deal," said student body president Velzani Moncayo. "It's really exciting but super stressful. The memories we make are so fun, and it's always a good time for the whole town to be proud of who we are."

Contact Randy Faehnrich at BCRsports@gmail.com.