The 41st annual event, free and open to the public, will start at 9 a.m. and travel down temporarily closed-off Colorado Avenue from 29th Street to Bancroft Park. There, a pep rally will attempt to amp up the Cougar football players for their Homecoming game at 1 p.m. at Gary Berry Stadium against Pueblo Centennial High.
 The Coronado High School Student Cabinet is the group that's behind many of the student activities each year, including (moreso in recent years) raising money for the annual Homecoming Parade. The 2011-12 contingent is shown here. Back row (from left): Andy Essells, Justin Ramsey, Drew MacMillan (student president), Clay Campbell and José Escobar. Middle row (from left): Mikaela Martinez, Shay-Lee Allen, Marlyn Grennel, Nicole Bergen and Sophia Assila. Front row (from left): Brandon Nelson, Jessa Marra, Katie King, Kellye Rather, and Lauren Hancock. Westside Pioneer photo
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A new element for the parade this year will be a pancake breakfast in Bancroft Park, set up as a continuing fundraiser for the ever-more-expensive parade. See story, Page 1.
With the theme of “Space: The Final Frontier,” Student President Drew MacMillan said he expects about 30 entries for the parade (roughly the same as last year). Most of these will be Coronado clubs, hand-making the floats they'll ride on. The elementary schools that feed into Coronado are also known to get decorative, creating signs and costumes and marching or riding in representation of their indvidual schools. Coronado's Homecoming King and Queen candidates will be feted in Corvette convertibles.
Live music will be provided by the Coronado High marching band (leading the parade), as well as bands from Holmes and West middle schools and - new this year - the northeast-located Jenkins Middle School. Why Jenkins? Based on the District 11-established enrollment area for Coronado, some of Jenkins' students go to the Westside's flagship school, so this is a way to make them feel welcome, MacMillan explained.
Parade marshals (staffers) will judge the floats, with a small cash prize to the winner, he said.
Joan Powell, who led Coronado's volleyball program for 30 years and brought home three state titles before retiring in 2006, will be the annual Westside Recipient for this year's Homecoming.
Because of personal commitments, she can't be in the parade but will be introduced during halftime at the game, Coronado Assistant Principal Darin Smith said.
Coronado traditionally prepares for Homecoming with a week of Spirit Days, in which students are allowed to dress in specified, zany ways. This year these will include a college day, toga day, class color day, space day and the traditional “mad red and gold” day, MacMillan said.
About all that would make Homecoming complete for Coronado would be victory in the football game Sept. 24. The school has lost eight straight Homecoming games.
Westside Pioneer article