First Friday Parade
Roaring Start
Since 1974, the First Friday Parade has heralded in each new football season. Students, fans and alumni gather for the parade on the Friday afternoon before the first home football game.
Welcome WeekRegistration
Registration for the 2026 First Friday parade is open! It will close on September 4, 2026. The registration form can be found on the Central Spirit TigerQuest page or by clicking on the link below.
We have student organizations, University departments, and community groups participate in the parade each year! If you’re interested in registering and are seeking more information, please contact cufirstfriday@gmail.com.
Parade Rules
The 2026 Parade Guidelines are put in place to ensure the safety of participants and spectators alike. These guidelines are implemented by the First Friday leadership team!
These guidelines are signed by every participant of the First Friday parade so everyone is on the same page when it comes to safety measures.
Important Safety Guidelines:
- Participants are not allowed to hand out or throw any materials during the parade
- All participants must keep with the natural flow of the parade. Groups are not allowed to stop to perform a dance, cheer, or any other activity.
- All organizations are responsible for educating their members on the 2026 Parade Guidelines.
To view the full 2026 Parade Guidelines, please visit the Central Spirit TigerQuest page. They are located under the “Documents” section of the home page.
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Grand Marshals
The Grand Marshals for the 2026 First Friday parade are Justin Howell and Liz Crandall-Howell, Co-Head Coaches of Clemson Gymnastics! They led the team to an extremely successful season in their first year at the helm, capping it off with an ACC Gymnastics Championship win! This is the first ACC title in Clemson Gymnastics history. The Howell’s are very excited to be a part of this amazing Clemson tradition!
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Spectator Information
The Clemson Family always shows up to support the annual First Friday parade! This year the parade will be held on September 11th, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The route will be the same as previous years, with the parade beginning at Douthit Hills Hub and turning right on to Hwy 93. The route will continue all the way down Hwy 93 past Historic Riggs Field. The parade will conclude at the Lower Intramural Field, located at the intersection of Hwy 93 and Williamson Road.
The best parade views are offered from Bowman Field, Sikes Hall, and the Business Building. These areas are the central focal point of the parade and really highlight the parade!
The Clemson Police Department will shut down the roads at the intersection of Hwy 93 and Cherry Road approximately 10 minutes before the parade is scheduled to begin. The roads will reopen once the parade has concluded.
After the Parade!
After the conclusion of the First Friday parade you can stick around and cheer on our Tigers! Clemson Men’s soccer is facing off against Notre Dame in their first ACC home opener at 7:00 PM. Clemson Volleyball is also in action after the First Friday parade! They will face off against in-state rival South Carolina at Jervey Gym. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM. These are both wonderful opportunities to get those Clemson spirit’s high as we prepare to face Georgia Southern in Death Valley on September 12th!
