Friday night parade kicks off 2008 Ohio State University Homecoming

Homecoming Weekend at The Ohio State University starts with a parade through the campus Friday evening and concludes Sunday with a lively fund-raising event to support cancer research. This year's theme of "96 Years and Counting…" reflects the long-standing status of this traditional event, and parade float builders and others will be incorporating numbers and statistics in their designs.

Homecoming Parade, 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24
Begins at Ohio Stadium, east on Woody Hayes Drive, south on High Street, west on 12th Avenue. Concludes at 12th Avenue and College Road.

More than 75 entries, representing fraternities and sororities, class honor societies, service organizations, and residence halls. Also the 1928 Homecoming Queen, the 1958 football team, and several current varsity sports teams.
Grand Marshals: Ohio State athletes and coaches who participated in the Beijing Olympics
Pep Rally, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, South Oval
Features: Ohio State cheerleaders, Brutus Buckeye, OSU Marching Band

Homecoming Football Game, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, Ohio Stadium
Nationally televised game versus the Penn State Nittany Lions
The Homecoming Queen, King and Court will be introduced

Step, Stride and Swim-A-Thon, noon, Sunday, Oct. 26, RPAC Plaza
To benefit the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute

Participants can climb Stadium steps, run half-mile laps around the RPAC complex or swim laps in the McCorkle Aquatic Pavillion.
Prizes will be awarded in each event.
A complete list of activities is at http://homecoming.osu.edu/

CONTACTS: John Reid
Homecoming Parade Marketing Director
(513) 473-7516