WEST POINT, Ala. – West Point residents were given a brush-up on parade etiquette and candy-collecting on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the West Point Community Homecoming Parade. Attendees rallied around the West Point High School football team ahead of its homecoming game, scheduled for Friday, Sept. 13, against rival Lawrence County.
Heather Mathis, a longtime West Point parent said, “It’s such a community here. Everybody comes out to celebrate and do these things to support the team.”
With the West Point Warrior Band leading the way, the parade’s floats and participants loaded up at West Point Baptist Church to begin the nearly half-mile trek through Warrior Nation to the school’s baseball facility near the middle school. Originally, the parade was slated to take place on Thursday, Sept. 12, and was intended to include a community bonfire; however, Hurricane Francine sent threats of dangerous winds and flooding into the area, moving the celebration up and altering the agenda. With anticipated high winds, the idea of a large bonfire was axed for the second year in a row; 2023’s bonfire was canceled due to a burn ban.
Nearly the entirety of the school and associated programs had representation for the homecoming kick-off. West Point Youth Football players and their cheerleaders and majorettes showed up with school pride, Town staff participated and West Point High School freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors were tasked with concocting and constructing floats worthy of a win.
Local businesses and organizations also joined in on the celebration and mile-long line of fun in floats, ATVs and a couple of participants, quite literally hoofing it on horseback, all tossing candy and treats to the children lining the campus’ main road, hoping to hype the school’s footballers and snag a victory for the year’s most notable game.
The students of WPHS had a busy week leading up Saturday’s game against Lawrence County, with traditional homecoming dress-up days. On Monday, students were encouraged to dress in their favorite holiday-themed attire, Tuesday saw the students choose country or country club, Wednesday allowed a choice of the students’ favorite decades, Thursday let them transform into a favorite toy and Friday was a beach day for the students in Hawaiian shirts and floral leis.
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