Homecoming features parade, games and dance

Parade begins Thursday at 5 p.m. on Montezuma Ave.

The Montezuma-Cortez High School Hawaiian Luau Homecoming Parade is Thursday beginning at 5 p.m. on Montezuma Avenue.

After the parade, a pep rally at City Park starts at 5:30 p.m., and a powder puff flag football game at Panther Stadium starts at 7 p.m. Junior girls will go up against the senior girls.

The parade route will begin at the Elm Street intersection and continue to Cortez City Park. The staging area for floats and parade participants will be at the Montezuma County Senior Annex Parking lot.

Parade organizer Sara Broersma said 10 floats will participate. Candy will be handed out to spectators.

“It’s looking good. It will be a great day for a parade, and the event always brings a lot of energy to town,” she said.

The parade was moved to Montezuma Avenue this year because of the median construction project on the traditional Main Street location.

The main event, the homecoming football game, kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday at Panther Stadium. M-CHS plays Pagosa Springs.

Homecoming events continue Saturday, with the homecoming dance in the high school commons from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The dance also has a Hawaiian luau theme.

Also on Saturday, M-CHS junior varsity and varsity girl volleyball teams will play Pagosa Springs at 11 a.m. and noon. M-CHS girls softball teams will face off against Rifle High School, with varsity playing at 11 a.m. and junior varsity playing at 1 p.m.