Lena Hammond (right) and Carter Erickson (rear) cheering for the Orange and Blue during the UF Homecoming Parade
Photo by Tim Rodriquez
The 11-day celebration of the University of Florida (UF) 2025 Homecoming continued Friday with several events, including the annual Homecoming Festival, Gator Gallop and parade.
At noon, crowds donning orange and blue attire packed the streets of Gainesville to watch the UF Homecoming Parade.
This year’s parade started at SW 13th Street and Museum Road, where it then traveled north and turned east onto University Avenue before ending at Bo Didley Plaza on Main Street.
Highlights of the parade included floats decked out in orange and blue apparel, performances by local dancers and bands, and lots of Gator chomping.
Friday’s celebrations will wrap up with the 102nd rendition of Gator Growl.
Considered the nation’s largest student-run pep rally, Gator Growl was held at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. This year’s Growl featured DJ and producer Steve Aoki.
UF Homecoming 2025 concludes on Saturday with the Florida football team hosting Mississippi State.
Photo by Nick Anschultz Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) in the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward waves during the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Tim Rodriquez UF’s Albert the Alligator atop a fire engine during the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz Miss Florida Paris Richardson waves during the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz Miss Ocala Caroline Schapansky, Miss Florida Citrus Halle Burton and Miss Heart of Florida Angelina Eidson in the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Tim Rodriquez UF’s Albert and Alberta, standing with Gator Band Alumni behind the 1978-1983 mascot head.Photo by Nick Anschultz Miss University of Florida Bailee Purdue smiles at spectators.Photo by Nick Anschultz Sheriff Chad Scott does the Gator Chomp during the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz Spectators lined University Avenue Friday afternoon for the annual UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Tim Rodriquez UF’s Albert and Alberta standing with the 1978-1983 mascot head.Photo by Nick Anschultz The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) Motor Unit high-fives spectators during the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) Motor Unit travels down University Avenue on Friday afternoon.Photo by Tim Rodriquez UF’s Albert and Alberta are swinging to hit Big Boom at the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz The Buchholz High School cheerleaders in the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz The Children’s Trust of Alachua County in the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz The Gator Marching Band in the UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz The P.K. Yonge Marching Band in Friday’s UF Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz The UF Homecoming Court in the parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz The University of Florida cheerleaders in the Homecoming Parade.Photo by Nick Anschultz UF interim President Donald Landry leads the pack of university, state and city leaders on Friday afternoon.
Before joining Mainstreet Daily News to cover K-12 and higher education, Nick spent three and a half years at the Levy Citizen, where he served as the newspaper’s editor/reporter. In that role, Nick covered everything from government and education to sports and local events. He discovered his passion for journalism while attending the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in May 2021. When he is not typing words on his keyboard, you can usually find Anschultz watching sports – especially his Florida Gators – fishing, or spending time with friends and family. Nick is also a Report for America corps member.
