GLENWOOD, Iowa. (KMTV) — Black and gold lined the streets in Glenwood, Iowa for their annual Homecoming Parade.
The parade is unmatched, but threats of COVID-19 could have stopped it from taking place this year.
“Our homecoming is crazy,” Brenda Woods said. “Nobody else has a homecoming life we do.”
Life-long Glenwood residents say this is the 85th annual parade, and a global pandemic was not going stop them from missing this tradition.
“It’s a big deal,” Cindy Wallace said. “There is tons of tons of floats and a parade with a band.”
Wallace and Woods are sisters and Glenwood lifers. They say the parade is definitely different due to the pandemic.
Jason Morrison, also a life-long Glenwood resident, says people were asked to social distance and wear masks when attending the parade.
“I just hope that it doesn’t get worse because of it,” Morrison said. “I just wish they would do the right thing. I don’t want them to get sick, either.”
Although not everyone followed safety precautions, these life-long residents are excited younger generations get to experience homecoming weekend.
“I’m glad for the kid’s mostly, especially the seniors,” Wallace said. “They always get ripped out of stuff. It’s kind of nice that they are able to do it this year.”
According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, Mills County has a positivity rate of 5%, much lower than most of the state.
Despite events being canceled throughout the summer due to COVID, Glenwood stuck with tradition.
“My favorite thing about the parade is hanging out with my friends,” Treyton Williamson said.
“I was pretty excited because I get to hang out with my friends and I get to watch the parade and all the floats,” Miranda Minche said.
The City shortened the route of the parade, as well as limited the number of floats in an effort to combat the virus.
Watch his report at the top of the page.
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