Homecoming is an exciting time of school spirit and fun for the Carroll Dragons. This year’s activities include a carnival, parade and pep rally in Southlake Town Square on Wednesday, September 25, the varsity Homecoming game Friday night, September 27 at Dragon Stadium and a Homecoming Dance for Carroll high school students on Saturday.

There are some important details about the Homecoming 2013 event in Town Square. Details are listed below.

Carnival:
The carnival begins at 4:30 and ends at 6:30 p.m. There will be overlap, so those organizations who are in both should ensure that there are volunteers to keep the booth open once the parade line-up begins.  Each organizations or business who reserved a booth will get the following provided:  10 by 10 tent weighted down by sandbags, table and two chairs. The tents will be set up beginning at 10 a.m. on the day fo the event. Groups are encouraged to be at Town Square by 4 p.m. to get their booth ready for Dragon families. The money you make at your booth is yours!  This is a great fundraising opportunity for our student and parent organizations. Activities so far incude a dunking booth, bounce houses, face painting, carnival food, a cake walk, balloon darts, and more! Clean up at your booth area at the close of the carnival is your responsibility. Leave all tents, chairs and tables at the spot. Please clean up trash and use the receptacles provided, including the recyling bins!

Parade:
Participants in the parade are Carroll ISD student groups in grades 7-12. Each K-6 campus is permitted one parade entry, too. The parade will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. from the parking lot behind Trulucks and Barnes & Noble (north parking lot). Each group will be emailed a specific parade number and location to line-up. Vehicles can be placed at the spot and locked beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning. All parade entries should be at their spot ready for safety checks at 6 p.m. The parade will pull out from the parking lot, head south between Brio and Taco Dinner, continuing past the Coach store and turning by Anthropologie. The parade will continue past the Apple store and Starbucks and turn in front of the Gazebo. Do not stop at the gazebo, but continue on through the parking lot behind Corner Bakery. Administrators and School Resource officers will be present at that site to help ensure pedestrians safely get to the pep rally on the steps of Town Hall. No candy or items are to be thrown out because of the safety of our small parade atendees. Those walking along the parade route may hand items to the people along the parade route, but no items should be thrown out to the crowds. Click here to find parade waivers for adults and students. Waivers must be turned in before participation in the parade.

PARKING NOTE:
The parking spaces along the parade route will close at 5 p.m. Signage will warn shoppers and visitors to Southlake Town Square. Patrons will likely want to avoid these parking spaces in the late afernoon. Please use the parking garages – they are your best option for parking. Expect traffic around Southlake Town Square during Homecoming activities; plan plenty of time to get to the parade line-up area. If you are not at the carnival, we suggest using the service road along Highway 114 to access the parade line-up parking lot.

Pep Rally:
Student Council will host the pep rally immediately after the close of the parade. The pep rally will be held near Southlake Town Hall. Areas will be roped off for the high school band, cheerleaders, football team, Emerald Belles and Crew.  The Homecoming Court will be announced on the steps of Town Hall and the winners will be crowned at this event. Once the pep rally is over, the Homecoming events at Town Square on Wednesday, Sept 25 are over.

Info Booth/First Aid:
There will be a Student Council information booth and a first aid booth between the Fountain and Pavillion in Rustin Park. The Homecoming Planning Committee will have basic first aid services, a lost and found and DEET insect repellent wipes for those needing assistance. Fire and Police Personnel will be on site during this event.

Restrooms:
Portable restrooms will be available at the carnival site and at the parade line-up area.

Inclement Weather Plan:
We will do our best to have this event, weather permitting. We do not have an alternate rain date if the event is canceled. In light of the recent positive mosquito samples for West Nile Virus, please Fight the Bite. Be sure to protect your children and family with insect repellent that includes DEET. Although 80 percent of the people who have West Nile Virus never even experience symptoms, we want all our Dragon families to take the City of Southlake’s precautions and advice serious!  Visit the City of Southlake website for more information about steps to Fight the Bite.

Sponsors:
Carroll ISD and the Student Council are proud to announce this year’s Homecoming Sponsors!  Special thanks to Grubbs Infiniti, Frost Bank, Sushi Zushi and Re/MAX Heritage (agent Tim Nystrom) for their support of this year’s carnival, parade and pep rally. Corporate Booth Sponsors also include Cafe Express, Pie Five Pizza Company, Southlake Style Magazine/Simply Sundress, Republic Services and Advanced Spine & Orthopedics, Southlake. The funds raised for this event will benefit the Carroll Student Council. For additional information about event sponsors, click here.