Cumberland Avenue Merchants Association (CAMA) members love a parade as much as anyone. They're putting their money where their mouths are, donating about $3,000 in prizes to be handed out after today's Homecoming Parade.
Head to Cumberland Avenue this afternoon for the University of Tennessee's 101st Homecoming Parade - the first time in 30 years that the parade has rolled along The Strip. The floats and bands step off at 4 p.m.
If you cast a vote for best float, you have a chance of winning some of the CAMA prizes.
CAMA has assembled diverse prize packs – everything from dinners and hotel stays to “Risky Business” sunglasses, headphones and cell phone repairs.
Sunspot is donating a pair of dinner-for-two gift cards. Graphic Creations is offering two 24-by-30 canvas artworks. McDonald's is offering 90 - yes, 90 - meals and sandwiches. University Liquors has donated a $100 gift card. The Hilton Garden Inn and Marriott are both donating hotel stays.
There are many more goodies, set to go to the best float artisans and to lucky parade watchers.
Prizes will be given to the top three student teams for their elaborate floats, and the winners will be determined through social media. Anyone can vote for their favorite float using Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Just use the hashtag #VolFloat with the number of the float entry. For example, to vote for float entry No. 100, use the hashtag #VolFloat100.
In addition, three individuals who cast ballots for best float will be randomly selected and also will receive prize packs.
Here are some of the CAMA merchants who have donated to the prize packs: 303 Flats; Cell Phone Repair; Cherokee Distributing; Copper Cellar; Eagle Distributing; FedEx/Kinko's; Graphic Creations; Half Barrel; House of Dragon; Hilton Garden Inn; Insomnia Cookies; Jimmy Johns; Liter Board; Marriott; McDonald's; Mellow Mushroom; Neon Hair Salon; Niro's Gyros; Oscar's Italian restaurant; Regions Bank; Starbucks; Sunspot; Tapp'd; Tenn Student Living; UT Federal Credit Union; University Liquors; Vaughn & Melton; and Visit Knoxville.
Cumberland Avenue will be closed to vehicles for the 4-5 p.m. parade, and it will remain closed from 5-6 p.m. for a post-parade celebration, where merchants will be offering specials, promotions and giveaways, and the floats will be parked on display. Admirers are encouraged to vote for their favorite float.
The theme for this year’s festivities is “HC 101: Intro to Rocky Top.” The parade’s grand marshals include Del and Dane Bryant, sons of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, a husband-wife songwriter team who generated a string of hits, including, of course, “Rocky Top.”