Celebrate Homecoming at the 2026 Trojan Days Homecoming Parade on Oct. 10

September 24, 2026

MADISON, S.D. - Dakota State University's 2026 Trojan Days Homecoming Parade will have a different route this year.

Due to construction along Egan Ave. in Madison, the Trojan Days parade, which begins at 9 a.m. on Sat. Oct. 10, will start on Washington Ave. at 9th St., turn onto 6th St., then turn onto Egan Ave., and end at the Depot.

The parade will start near the Dakota Prairie Playhouse and travel south past Residence Village, Heston Hall, the Trojan Center, and The Beacom Institute of Technology before turning onto 6th St.

We encourage Trojans to gather at their favorite establishments before and after the parade before joining DSU for football tailgating at 11:30 a.m.

Please review the following information to help make the parade an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Parking

Guests are invited to park in available lots throughout campus and along public roadways, where allowed by law. Street parking along Washington Ave. on the parade route will be unavailable beginning 3 p.m. Fri. until the end of the parade. DSU Students, Faculty, and Staff are asked to move their vehicles from the parade route by 3 p.m. Fri., Oct. 9.

Washington Ave. along the parade route will be barricaded to all vehicle traffic from 8:30 a.m. until the parade concludes.

Seating

Curbside seating will be first-come, first-served on both sides of Washington Ave. throughout campus. Because this parade will flow through a residential neighborhood, we remind parade attendees to respect private property. Sidewalks and boulevards are public property and available for seating.

DSU's Student Watch Party will be located at the Hexagon along Washington Ave. The DSU Alumni Watch Party will be in front of First Bank and Trust on Egan Ave.

For everyone's safety, spectators are asked to remain along the parade route and ensure children stay out of the street while the parade is in progress.

For more information on Trojan Days and the parade, visit the Trojan Days homepage.

Amenities:

• The Trojan Zone within the Trojan Center will be open with special hours Saturday morning from 9 - 11 a.m. The Trojan Zone Stadium Store will open at 1 p.m. and close after halftime of the football game.
• 8th Street Square, proudly serving Starbucks, will be open 9 - 11 a.m.
• DSU Admissions will conduct guided tours of campus, beginning at 10:30 a.m. from The Beacom Institute of Technology.
• Donuts, juice, coffee, and hot chocolate, provided by the DSU Foundation, are available at the Alumni gathering location in front of the First Bank and Trust at 120 Egan Ave. N in downtown Madison.

Participation:

Dakota State University is still accepting entries for the 2026 Trojan Days Parade. If you or your organization are interested in participating, please sign up here.

Livestream:

The 2026 Trojan Days Parade will be livestreamed through DSU's YouTube channel. A link will be provided closer to the parade date through DSU's Trojan Days website.

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