Decatur celebrates homecoming with parade, pep rally

DECATUR — It looked like the much anticipated Decatur Bulldog homecoming day would end up a wash as rain, which began on Thursday, threatened to cancel the daylong celebration and possibly the football contest itself. By midmorning on Friday, the rain ended and the homecoming events were on.

At 1:30 p.m., the parking area at Decatur City Hall was bustling with floats, homecoming maid vehicles, fire trucks and the Decatur High School band. Each took its place in the homecoming parade lineup. Down below, along Main Street, students from Decatur PreK, Northside Elementary, Decatur Middle and High schools gathered along Main Street and Roller Avenue waiting for the start of the 2019 Homecoming parade.

Soon Main Street from Jo Avenue to Roller Avenue was void of vehicle traffic as the Decatur Police Department blocked off all access to the downtown area. This marked the beginning of the muchanticipated event. Silence fell on Main Street for several minutes.

Then suddenly, from the hill above, the sound of a police car and fire truck sirens broke the silence and at 1:45 p.m. the Decatur Bulldog fight song, played by the high school band, clearly filled the air as the band turned onto Main Street.

In all, five floats (those of the seniors, juniors, sophomores, freshmen and the football team), along with the cheer team pickup and several homecoming court cars all passed in review before the assembled masses of students, teachers and Bulldog fans. Each of the parade participants threw delectable candy treats to the children lining the street.

Within 15 minutes, traffic was flowing through downtown Decatur once again and the 2019 Homecoming parade passed into history.

When 2:15 p.m. rolled around at Peterson Gym, the Decatur High School cheer team began the first chant, opening the Homecoming pep rally. The homecoming court and its escorts were introduced during the hour-long assembly. Afterward, the fun and games began with a tug-of-war, ball snatch and potato pass.

As soon as it began, the final bell sounded, marking the end of the school day as the students filed out of the gym and into waiting cars and buses for the ride home.

But the day was far from over. In a few hours the new homecoming king and queen would be named and the football contest between the Decatur Bulldogs and Quinton, Okla., Savages began.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS The junior float passes the Decatur library just before it turned onto Roller Avenue during the 2019 homecoming parade through downtown Decatur Friday. The theme for this float was Superman versus Lex Luther.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A future Decatur Bulldog holds up a sign in support of the Bulldogs during the 2019 homecoming parade through downtown Decatur on Friday.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Paige Barrett (right) guides Destiny Mejia across the basketball court, picking up plastic balls in a basket during the game portion of the 2019 Decatur homecoming pep rally at Peterson Gym on Friday afternoon.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Students and teachers alike join the beat as the Decatur High School band plays the Bulldog fight song during the 2019 Decatur homecoming pep rally at Peterson Gym on Friday.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Destiny Mejia (left) and Natalia Rodriguez ride the senior class float down Main Street during the 2019 homecoming parade through downtown Decatur Friday afternoon. The theme for the senior float was Batman. It was decked out with a Batmobile and the superhero himself.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS The eighth-grade class at Decatur Middle School tries to pull the sophomore class (out of the frame) across the center line in a tug-of-war contest during the 2019 homecoming pep rally at Peterson Gym on Friday afternoon.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS The Decatur cheer team, led by senior captain Kaylee Morales (center), gets the students gathered at Peterson Gym into the Bulldogs’ spirit during the 2019 homecoming pep rally Friday afternoon in Decatur.