Hobo Day, Annual homecoming celebration in Brookings, United States
Hobo Day is an annual week of events held by South Dakota State University in Brookings. The celebration features a large parade through town followed by a football game at the university stadium.
The tradition started in 1912 when students replaced an older parade with a new celebration featuring hobo costumes for the homecoming event. This new tradition quickly became a central part of the university's annual calendar.
The name comes from the original tradition where students dressed as hobos during the university homecoming. Today, student groups use the celebration to build parade floats and showcase performances in talent competitions.
The main parade happens on a Saturday morning, so arrive early to get a good spot along the route. After the parade, walking to the football stadium is straightforward, though it helps to take a short break between events if you plan to stay for the game.
A restored 1912 automobile called the Bummobile has led every parade since 1938, driven by the reigning Grand Pooba. This long-standing tradition connects the modern celebration directly to the event's earliest days.
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