Live TV

© 2024 WUFT / Division of Media Properties

News and Public Media for North Central Florida

Live TV

Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Human Interest

Photos: Homecoming Parade rallies thousands of fans

WUFT | By Ashleigh Lucas,

Amanda Friedman, Valentina Sarmiento

Published October 6, 2023 at 11:18 PM EDT

Brilyn Johnson waves around streamers handed to her by a parade float participant during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News)

University of Florida President Ben Sasse fist bump with kids sitting outside of Karma Cream on University Avenue during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News) — University of Florida President Ben Sasse fist bumps with kids sitting outside of Karma Cream on University Avenue during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News)

2: Alberta and Albert Gator, the official mascots of the University of Florida, wave to onlookers during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, October 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/WUFT News) — Alberta and Albert Gator, the official mascots of the University of Florida, wave to onlookers during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/WUFT News)

Members of the Tallest Tree Cuong Nhu Martial Arts Center break a wood board in half during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News)

The Auto E.R. mascot gives high fives to parade watchers during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, October 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News) — The Auto E.R. mascot gives high fives to parade watchers during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News)

Aiden Grimsley practices before performing at UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, October 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News) — Aiden Grimsley practices before performing at UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News)

A Shriner gives a Gator Chomp during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, October 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News) — A Shriner gives a Gator Chomp during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News)

A boy is handed a mallet to hit the Gator Band drum during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News) — A boy is handed a drumstick to hit the Gator Band drum during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News)

Abbie Rich, a Junior at Buchholz High School, rallies and performs for the crowd during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., October 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/ WUFT News) — Abbie Rich, a Junior at Buchholz High School, rallies and performs for the crowd during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/ WUFT News)

Republican Florida Representative Keith Perry waves to community members during University of Florida’s annual Homecoming Parade near Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville, Fla., October 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News) — Florida Sen. Keith Perry waves to community members during the University of Florida’s annual Homecoming Parade near Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News)

A man wearing camouflage walks alongside UF’s ROTC float during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., October 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/ WUFT News) — A man wearing camouflage walks alongside UF’s ROTC float during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/ WUFT News)

Morocco Shriners of the West Jacksonville Shrine Club high five parade attendees as they drive down University Avenue during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News) — Morocco Shriners of the West Jacksonville Shrine Club high-five parade attendees as they drive down University Avenue during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News)

A girl marches along University Avenue juggling balls during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News)

Florida Gators Cheerleaders wave to parade attendees from the top of a Gainesville Fire Rescue firetruck during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News)

A woman participating in the University of Florida’s annual Homecoming Parade pokes her head out of a bus window on Main Street in Gainesville, Fla., October 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News) — A woman participating in the University of Florida’s annual Homecoming Parade looks out at the crowd from a bus window on Main Street in Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News)

William Johnson, 3, covers his ears and attempts to drown out the sirens during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., October 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/ WUFT News) — William Johnson, 3, covers his ears to drown out the sirens during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/ WUFT News)

A woman on stilts high fives a child near Bo Diddley Plaza during University of Florida’s annual Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., October 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News) — A woman on stilts high-fives a child near Bo Diddley Plaza during the University of Florida’s annual Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News)

University of Florida Danza dancers participate in the UF Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, October 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News) — University of Florida Danza dancers participate in the UF Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News)

Aubrey Fournier prepares to perform at UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, October 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News) — Aubrey Fournier prepares to perform at UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News)

Members of the Florida Goal-Liners Florida Gators float do a gator chomp during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News) — Members of the Florida Goal Liners Florida Gators float do a gator chomp during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News)

University of Florida Surf Club members travel through UF’s annual Homecoming Parade on a float near Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville, Fla., October 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News) — University of Florida Surf Club members travel through UF’s annual Homecoming Parade on a float near Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News)

Possible future UF students ride on a float during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, October 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News) — Aspiring UF students ride on a float during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News)

Eastside High School cheerleaders dance during University of Florida’s annual Homecoming Parade near Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville, Fla., October 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News) — Eastside High School cheerleaders dance during the University of Florida’s annual Homecoming Parade near Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News)

A woman on a float waves to community members during University of Florida’s annual Homecoming Parade near Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville, Fla., October 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News) — A woman on a float waves to community members during the University of Florida’s annual Homecoming Parade near Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 6, 2023. (Amanda Friedman/WUFT News)

University of Florida Gators Cheerleaders rile up the parade crowd while atop a firetruck during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, October 6,2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/ WUFT News) — University of Florida Gators Cheerleaders rile up the parade crowd while atop a firetruck during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/ WUFT News)

Krishna’s participate in the UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, October 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News) — Krishna devotees participate in UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News)

Members of UF’s Equestrian Club participate in UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, October 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News) — Members of UF’s Equestrian Club participate in UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Lee Ann Anderson/WUFT News)

The Fightin’ Gator Marching Band makes their way down W. University Ave. during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, October 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/WUFT News) — The Fightin’ Gator Marching Band makes its way down West University Avenue during UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/WUFT News)

Emily Lara, 10, middle, walks hand in hand with her cousins Raina Chambliss, 2, left, and Rylee Chambliss, 4, right, minutes before the start of UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., October 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/ WUFT News) — Emily Lara, 10, center, walks hand in hand with her cousins Raina Chambliss, 2, left, and Rylee Chambliss, 4, right, minutes before the start of UF’s Homecoming Parade in Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 6, 2023. (Valentina Sarmiento/ WUFT News)

Ashleigh Lucas

Ashleigh is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.

See stories by Ashleigh Lucas

Amanda Friedman

Amanda is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.

See stories by Amanda Friedman

Valentina Sarmiento

Valentina is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.

See stories by Valentina Sarmiento