Before the Chieftains suit up to take on the Plainwell Trojans at Chris Taylor Alumni Field Friday evening, the community is invited to come out and cheer on another group of talented Dowagiac students as they make their way through the city.

The annual Homecoming Parade takes place Friday, kicking off at 5:30 p.m. at Dowagiac Union High School in the parking lot. The student-run parade will include four floats built by each of the school’s classes, as well as other participants such as the local rocket football team, several fire departments, the Miss Dowagiac Court of Honor and more.

The parade route stretches from the high school to the Dowagiac football field. The procession will start by heading down Prairie Ronde near the high school, turning onto Green Street for a short distance before turning on Wayne Street. From Wayne, the route will wind its way down Orchard Street before turning onto Spruce Street, which will take the units all the way down to the stadium.

Once again organizing the event are members of the Dowagiac Union High School student senate, led by class president Emily Dodd.

“I was really excited to help organize the event this year, since I had never done so before,” Dodd said. “My friend [Heather Olson] was president last year, so I though I would give it a try myself.”

Dodd — a senior — along with other students in the senate selected Disney films to serve as the theme for this year’s floats, which will be created by each of the four classes at the high school. For example, the seniors will be constructing a float based upon “Alice in Wonderland,” while the juniors will be building one based on “Finding Nemo,” Dodd said.

Each of the classes will also have specific color schemes to work from as well, with seniors having black and red, juniors purple and orange, sophomores green and yellow and freshmen tan and brown, Dodd said.

Before the parade kicks off, the four floats will be judged by a pair of high school teachers, with the winning class receiving the coveted spirit stick for this year’s Homecoming celebration, Dodd said.

“We [seniors] are a little competitive,” she said about her class’ chances of winning this year’s contest. “I think we will get the job done. We have a lot of good and crazy ideas. I hope it will be a lot of fun.”

While she is helping her classmates build their class float, Dodd herself will be caught up with the responsibilities of making sure everything goes without a hitch, she said.

“Instead of just showing up, hopping on the float and passing out candy, this year I have to carry a clipboard, check off everyone who is in lineup, make sure everyone is there and in place,” Dodd said. “I give a lot of credit to past presidents. It is a lot of work.”

The senior president said the community is welcome come out, line the streets and watch the parade Friday, she said.

“It is a good way to bring the community together,” she said. “It is a fun event to watch, and afterwards you can go attend the game. Go Chiefs!”