Friday’s Homecoming parade featured more entries.

This year’s parade featured the same route as last year’s, starting in Huskie Stadium, but there were new participants, more entries and more city organizations getting involved.

“The parade was short, but overall good,” said Christa Harvatt, senior athletic training major. “It was nice to see the community in the parade, like the police and fire departments.”

The parade featured a contest with several categories, including viewer’s choice, university department, best Greek float and best non-Greek float. The entries were judged on creativity, theme and overall effect while the parade was in progress, and winners took home trophies.

The Homecoming theme was Generations of Pride.

Putting the plans together for the parade took a lot of time, and it involved a good amount of coordination, said Lynn Schmitz, assistant director for Huskie Family Connections.

All of the Greek floats were good, as were as the NIU clubs’, said senior marketing major Olivia Stanger. Some students are still looking for future improvement, though.

“I would like to see more excitement next time,” said senior music major Britt Semenow.

There were good notes about improving the parade from the committee, and further notes will be taken into account, Schmitz said.