Friday saw a flood of students, alumni and faculty on UF’s campus and surrounding streets as Gator fans prepared to celebrate the school’s 103rd Homecoming celebrations.
The 2-mile Gator Gallop run kicked off this weekend’s event, welcoming anyone interested to join in the festivities.
Gator Gallop
Adrenaline pumped in the air as runners took their marks on the starting line on Plaza of the Americas, preparing to embark on the 45th-annual 2-mile Gator Gallop.
With a viscous Gator medal greeting them at the finish line, over 800 participants excitedly anticipated the opening event to UF’s homecoming weekend.
John Polat, a UF microbiology freshman, said this year’s Gator Gallop allowed him to show off his homecoming spirit and enjoy the day’s fun energy.
Polat said he runs for personal enjoyment and the added health benefits like increased longevity. It also brings him a sense of community, he added.
“I feel like that sense of unity really makes running all the more fun and beneficial,” Polat said.
With Polat was Kaylor Hopkins, a UF electrical engineering freshman who said he has been running for years, and Gator Gallop was the perfect opportunity for him to join the homecoming tradition. As a freshman, Hopkins said he has been looking to get more involved and Gator Gallop was his calling.
“Of all the events for homecoming, this would probably be the best for me to celebrate,” he said.
Taylor Swift music filled the air as runners crossed the finish line marked by a large blow-up arch reading Gator Gallop. After the race, participants could wander around over ten booths featuring local businesses like Honey Nitro and B’z Gelati selling treats.
Along with a medal, participants were given t-shirts to commemorate the event's 45th anniversary.
Eric Liu, a business administration junior and the assistant director of Gator Gallop, said Homecoming allows students to celebrate diverse interests.
“We really try to have events for all students to celebrate UF,” he said.
Liu said students worked hard to make this program possible, adding that he spent the entire summer planning it with two directors and three assistant directors.
The race allows students to embrace UF culture by making them run past campus landmarks like Century Tower, Liu said. Although the race largely draws students, he added all are welcome.
“UF doesn’t exist without the Gainesville community,” Liu said. “We want everyone to come celebrate.”
Homecoming Festival
Upbeat music and bounce houses with ecstatic children and balloons filled Plaza of the Americas for the Homecoming Festival Friday morning.
For Cacie Bades, an 18-year-old biochemistry sophomore, this year’s homecoming festival was a huge success.
“I thought it was really fun last year and it was a great environment,” Bades said.
The annual festival, running from 9 a.m. to noon, hosted around 200 students, alumni and families and featured over 20 organizations, including businesses and vendors.
Tabler and attendee James Blackman, a 19-year-old political science freshman, said he enjoyed his first time at the festival, and he will definitely return next year.
“I like seeing all the different organizations out here, seeing all the different businesses,” Blackman said. “They’re awesome, and seeing the school pride makes me really happy.”
Homecoming Parade
UF’s annual homecoming parade united students and the greater Gainesville community Friday afternoon, lining the sidewalks of West University Avenue and Southwest 13th Street. The parade began at noon and came to an end at 2 p.m. on Bo Diddley Plaza in Downtown Gainesville.
Though culminating in a single afternoon, the parade took months of planning, which featured more than 100 floats from different local organizations such as ROTC, Greek Life chapters and Gainesville K-12 schools.
Noah Kurkin, a 20-year-old UF business administration junior and this year’s parade director, said he began planning the event in March.
Community members initiated the process by sending applications for a part in the parade. Holistically, Kurkin said the parade aims to involve as many organizations as possible.
“It's really not just a UF homecoming parade,” he said. “It involves the entire city of Gainesville.”
Along with showcasing community pride in Gainesville and for UF, the parade gave students a chance to showcase their uniqueness.
“It shows what makes UF so special, which is the individuality of each and every person here,” Kurkin said. “When you get into UF, you get in because you're smart, but it doesn't really show why you are who you are and what makes you so great.”
Kurkin added he believes people’s positive experience while watching the parade matters more than any work he put into it, and ultimately he hopes the Gainesville community leaves the parade with joy.
“I don't really care how much work they think I put in. I really just want them to be happy with what they see and what they're watching,” he said.
For some students, the parade offered a first look at one of UF’s Homecoming traditions.
Lauren Valentine, an 18-year-old UF microbiology and cell science freshman, said it was a great way to see the community come together.
“To me, this means community,” Valentine said. “We’re all Gators and support local groups and clubs.”
Colorful floats drove down the parade route as student organizations waved to spectators and community members lining the streets. Students cheered alongside Gainesville residents, dressed in a lively display of orange and blue.
Beyond celebrating school spirit, the parade exposed students to new clubs and organizations. There, she learned about clubs, including surf and grill, she hadn’t heard of before.
“But knowing about them now, I’m thinking it could be cool to join,” she said.
Love Alduhova, a 19-year-old UF graphic design sophomore, originally comes from a small town in South Florida, and she said she appreciated seeing so many different groups represented in the parade.
This diversity and representation highlighted how the university brings together students from different backgrounds, she added, creating a sense of community miles away from home.
“I thought it was really sweet seeing the high schools and some of the clubs. I want to cheer for all the kids because it’s just so sweet to see,” she said.
Gator Growl
Nikki Glaser will take the stage at the O’Connell Center at 7 p.m. to headline this year’s Gator Growl pep rally and comedy show.
The Emmy-nominated comedian gained attention for her comedy specials and award show hostings, specifically seeing a rise in fame after participating in Netflix’s “The Roast of Tom Brady” in 2024.
The event will be co-hosted by UF alumnus and ESPN personality Laura Rutledge, alongside former Gator football player and two-time national championship winner Brandon Spikes.
Alana Nguyen, Erica Dybas and Ellia Mytsa contributed to this report.
