NIU’s 11th annual Parade of Flags kicks-off Friday.

Nearly 500 local fifth graders will carry more than 100 international flags starting at 11:30 a.m. on the east side of Huskie Stadium.

Participants will walk along Lucinda Avenue ending in the MLK Commons.

Awni Alkarzon, graduate assistant in the Division of International Program, will lead the parade.

According to an NIU release, the university enrolled students from more than 90 countries this past academic year.