Photos by Tevin Stinson
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
A change in the traditional parade route didn’t stop thousands from showing up last Saturday morning for Winston-Salem State University’s annual Homecoming Parade. Instead of snaking its way through the streets of downtown Winston-Salem before heading to Bowman Gray Stadium, this year’s parade started in the giant parking lot near the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and followed Martin Luther King Jr. Drive all the way to the stadium, where the Rams took on St. Augustine University.
As a number of bands, dance troupes, floats, motorcycles and souped up cars traveled the new route, the streets were filled with smiles from people of all ages.
While enjoying a performance by WSSU’s Red Sea of Sound, Marion Jackson said, although he didn’t attend WSSU, waking up on Saturday morning to watch the parade has long been a family tradition.
“It is Winston-Salem State’s homecoming but the parade brings the entire community together,” he said. “People come to the parade and connect with people they haven’t seen in years. It’s like a family reunion.”