Baylor Homecoming Parade Draws Crowds in Waco
Hundreds lined downtown Waco streets as the annual parade wound from Austin Avenue to the Baylor University campus.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Civic
Hundreds of people attended the annual Baylor Homecoming Parade, which began at Austin Avenue and 8th Street, moved through downtown Waco, and ended on the Baylor campus. The 2026 parade featured more than 160 entries, including ten elaborately designed floats and 15 balloons.
Why it matters
The parade is a long-running community tradition that brings Baylor students, alumni, and Waco residents together along downtown streets. Its large lineup of campus and community organizations highlights the ties between the university and the city.
The 2026 parade included more than 160 entries, ten elaborately designed floats, and 15 balloons. No prior-year comparison or attendance total was provided in the source material.
The players
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private research university in Waco, Texas, founded in 1845 and affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Linda A. Livingstone
Linda A. Livingstone is the president of Baylor University, serving as the institution's chief executive.
Jim Holmes
Jim Holmes is the mayor of Waco, Texas, and participated in the 2026 Homecoming Parade.
Felecia Mulkey
Felecia Mulkey is the head coach of Baylor's Acrobatics & Tumbling program and served as the 2026 Grand Marshal of the parade.
The details
People lined up along downtown Waco streets to watch the parade travel from Austin Avenue and 8th Street, turn onto 5th Street, and continue onto the Baylor campus. Participants included the Baylor Golden Wave Marching Band, campus and community organizations, Waco Mayor Jim Holmes, and Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. with her husband Brad.
Timeline
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Baylor Homecoming Parade held on Saturday morning.
2027: Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling enters its inaugural NCAA championship season under Coach Felecia Mulkey.
Season Trajectory
The parade's annual downtown route ties Baylor's homecoming to Waco's civic life each fall. Its 2026 lineup, led by Grand Marshal Felecia Mulkey, comes just ahead of the program's first NCAA Acrobatics & Tumbling championship season in 2027.
Parade routes through downtown Waco affect traffic and street access during the event, so visitors should plan around the Austin Avenue to 5th Street corridor. The Baylor campus endpoint means the route also shapes campus access for attendees.
The takeaway
Homecoming traditions like this parade draw residents and students into shared downtown space each year. Attending or planning around the route can help visitors experience the event firsthand.
Further reading
For more local civic coverage, browse the Civic section for Waco.
