Ironton High School’s homecoming traditions will now include a parade Thursday at 6:30 p.m. spotlighting its students with floats and bands, sports teams, cheerleaders clubs and more participating.

“This is the first year for it. We’ve never done this before,” Valerie Freeman, from the Ironton Board of Education and one of the organizers, said. “We were trying to involve every group of the high school and there is a float competition with each class competing.”

The parade will have seven divisions and will begin from Heplar Street right outside of the high school turning right on Sixth Street and turning right onto Ellison Street proceeding to Bob Lutz Way and ending at Tanks Memorial Stadium for a pep rally.

Floats will be on display outside of the stadium.

Freeman said this year’s theme is “Light Up the Night” and the parade also provides another outlet to showcase the homecoming court.

“We want to encourage the community to put their orange and black flags on their porches, come out and support the kids in every way they possibly can,” Freeman said.

Homecoming activities begin Wednesday at 7 p.m. with the powder puff football game at the stadium, the parade Thursday, the homecoming football game Friday against Fairland High School, which is also alumni night for the band, flag and majorettes and cheerleaders and concluding with the homecoming dance on Saturday.