Gators Homecoming Guide: Parade, Hall of Fame, Growl

By Brenden Martin

Florida's Homecoming weekend starts Friday, Oct. 9, and ends with a sold-out Swamp on Saturday, when the Gators host South Carolina at 12:45 p.m. ET. Here is what the University of Florida and the University Athletic Association have confirmed so far, event by event.

Friday: Parade and Campus Festival

The Homecoming Parade is set for noon Friday. Organizers bill it as the largest student-run parade in the nation. It begins at 13th Street and Museum Road, heads north and turns onto University Avenue, then continues to Bo Diddley Plaza on Main Street. The route was adjusted this year to account for the speed tables on University Avenue.

The Campus Festival is also listed for Friday at the Plaza of the Americas. Its hours were not posted on the official Homecoming site, so check the schedule before you go.

Friday night: Gator Growl and the Hall of Fame

Gator Growl, which the Homecoming organizers call the crown jewel of the celebration, is Friday at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Tickets are sold through the Gator Growl website, and the start time is still to be confirmed by UF.

The UF Athletic Hall of Fame will also welcome eight new members Friday. The Class of 2026 is:

- Dedric Dukes, track and field

- Vernon Hargreaves, football

- Vernon Maxwell, basketball

- Mikey Meagher, lacrosse

- Andrew Moten, basketball

- Logan Shore, baseball

- Bridget Sloan, gymnastics

- Kelsey Stewart, softball

The induction dinner, hosted by the F Club and Gator Event Group, is on Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Doors and cocktails open at 6 p.m., and dinner is served at 7 p.m. The UAA said in August that the event was nearly sold out.

Saturday: Two Bits and kickoff

Maxwell and Moten, who ranked first and fourth on Florida's career basketball scoring list, according to the UAA, will serve as honorary Mr. Two Bits before the game. The UAA said they will lead the cheer only, a break from the energy of the original routine.

Kickoff against South Carolina is 12:45 p.m. ET. The UAA announced Thursday that the game is sold out, the 22nd straight sellout at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the longest streak since the Gators sold out 138 straight games from 1989 to 2011. If you do not have a ticket, Ticketmaster is the only authorized resale seller.

What to know before you go

Plan around the weekend's overlap. The parade, festival and Hall of Fame events all land on Friday, and the stadium will be busy Saturday morning. For gates, conditions and what to bring, see our gameday conditions guide.

Florida enters the weekend 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the SEC, according to the UAA. South Carolina is 2-3 and 0-3.

We will update this guide if UF confirms more times and locations.