For the first time, Southport High School is ditching its traditional homecoming parade and instead hosting a free community festival this week called CARDFEST.
“We like to think of it as a reverse parade,” said Erin Herwehe, one of the Southport High School seniors who are planning the new event. “Instead of us going through the community, the community comes through us this time.”
Southport High School’s Student Booster Club, which organizes multiple school spirit events throughout the year, typically spends months planning the homecoming parade and already ordered yard signs to promote the event.
But school leaders had to pivot once they heard about a scheduling hiccup in mid-August — just weeks before the homecoming football game against Cathedral High School.
Perry Meridian High School and Southport High School scheduled their homecoming celebrations for the same week, and the school district doesn’t have enough police officers to work both parades. In order to ensure everyone’s safety, Southport High School’s parade would need all 16 officers at the Perry Township Schools Police Department, as well as some from nearby police stations in Southport and Homecroft, according to a school district spokesperson.
So, the homecoming parade organizers had to change course — and fast. The seniors in charge of planning the event settled on another football tradition to replace the parade: a tailgate-style event with live music, food and games.
If you go
🏈 CARDFEST
🗓️ 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
📍 Southport High School, 971 E. Banta Road (on the front lawn and east parking lot)
🎟️ Free
🏈 Homecoming Football Game
🗓️ 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
📍 Cardinal Stadium, 1111 E. Banta Road
🎟️ Tickets are $7
Aiden Quinlin, a senior, has attended the homecoming parade for as long as he can remember. Although he won’t be able to celebrate his final year with a parade, he’s excited for the upcoming event on Friday, Sept. 19.
“Definitely a hard hit for the seniors,” said Quinlin, one of the event planners. “But we’ve tried to put the word out there that CARDFEST is going to be just as good, if not better.”
Southport teacher Sam Hanley was a student at the school’s rival, Perry Meridian. But the English and journalism teacher has helped students plan Southport’s homecoming event for over 20 years.
Hanley hopes the new celebration will retain some aspects of the traditional homecoming experience.
“Part of the parade is you stand around on a beautiful sunny afternoon and enjoy the company of people you went to school with or people you haven’t met before,” Hanley said. “And that’s kind of the vibe we’re hoping to bring back with this.”
The homecoming court will be honored in a different style this year. Instead of riding in a car during the parade, Quinlin and Herwehe said the court will be celebrated on an outdoor stage.
The football team will be honored with a “walk of champions” celebration, where athletes walk through a tunnel while being cheered on by the community before the big game.
If you go
CARDFEST will include a DJ, food trucks and a bounce house. The tailgate-style event will also have over 45 booths from different student organizations, alumni and community groups. Community members can visit the tents to chat with neighbors and play games, such as cornhole.
Even though children won’t be able to catch candy from cars in a parade, kids can grab sweets from different booths.
The event starts at 4:30 p.m., followed by the football game at 7 p.m. CARDFEST is free, but it costs $7 to attend the game.
About our reporting
This article was published as part of a partnership between Chalkbeat Indiana, WFYI, and Mirror Indy to increase coverage of township school districts in Marion County.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @_elizabethgabs.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
