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The UCLA marching band performs in the Homecoming parade Friday night in Westwood.

The streets of Westwood Village bustled with energy and excitement as hundreds of people of all ages celebrated UCLA Homecoming on Friday night.

The Homecoming parade and rally, themed “Oh, the Places We’ll Go!”, featured live music, free food and floats created by UCLA student groups and Westwood community organizations.

“Homecoming is an event to unite the campus, bring back alumni, and raise school spirit. It’s the one time during the year you can show off everything that UCLA does,” said Mark Deppe, executive director of Homecoming 2004 and a fifth-year psychobiology student.

The Homecoming parade began as a UCLA tradition in 1933. Though lack of interest caused the annual parade to be cancelled in 1997, it was revived in 2002 by the Student Alumni Association to increase UCLA student spirit and pride.

The parade began at 8 p.m. at the corner of Gayley and Kinross avenues and proceeded through Westwood on a pre-planned route.

The 18 members of SAA’s Homecoming committee started working out the details of Homecoming six months ago by deciding the parade route, recruiting students, and attaining permits to hold the parade.

The committee’s efforts did not go unnoticed by new students attending the parade for the first time.

“Homecoming was an exciting first parade for me. I’ve never experienced anything like it before,” said Constance Reese, a first-year theater student.

Those that had attended previous Homecoming parades were also impressed by the performances in the parade.

“I had a nice experience, especially with seeing the flips and acrobatics some groups performed,” said Tanisha Williams, a third-year theater student.

When asked how they felt about leading Homecoming, UCLA mascots Joe and Josie Bruin jumped up and down and gestured spiritedly.

“Joe and Josie Bruin mean that though it was nerve-wracking, they loved seeing all the children and crowds of supporters,” said Mike Kockler, acting spirit squad adviser for the Center for Student Programming.

Chris Diaz, a saxophonist in the UCLA Marching Band and a second-year political science and sociology student, said he had been preparing to perform in the event for weeks.

“Seeing the crowd cheering as we were marching by is something I won’t forget. I hope to see this level of enthusiasm at every game,” Diaz said.

Other performers believed that Homecoming was also beneficial to the surrounding community.

“It was really, really rewarding to see all the children smiling and to be supporting such a great cause,” said Heather Schwartz, a member of UCLA Dance Marathon and a third-year psychology student.

Awards based on various factors such as creativity, presentation and spirit were given out to parade performers during the post-parade rally. Alpha Delta Pi sorority and Alpha Gamma Omega fraternity won awards for most creative entry, best banner and best overall performance. Triangle fraternity and Phi Sigma Rho sorority were awarded best presentation, and the most spirited award went to UCLA Dance Marathon. South Bay Bruins received the Friends of UCLA award.

Homecoming festivities included selecting two UCLA students as Royal Bruins, a title given to those who have demonstrated leadership, academics and involvement as undergraduates.

This year judges crowned Francine Maigue, a fifth-year world arts and cultures student, and Jason Chiu, a fifth-year mechanical engineering student.

“The best part was seeing how many awesome people the UCLA community encompasses and having everyone from those that graduated in the 1930s to little kids that want to go here in 15 years out there,” Deppe said. “It’s what being a Bruin is all about.”

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