SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State University’s Homecoming parade starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. The parade travels south from the corner of John Q. Hammons Parkway and St. Louis Street, proceeds west on Cherry Street to Holland Avenue and continues south on Holland to Grand Avenue.

The university encourages parade spectators to approach the campus from the east and park in Bear Park North (west of Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts), Bear Park South (on the corner of Grand at Holland) or in Lot 25 (south of Hammons Student Center). Bear Park North will be inaccessible beginning at 8:30 a.m. until the parade ends. The event is free and open to the public.

Also on Saturday is the Sunshine Run, with three races beginning south of Hammons Field. The Murney Associates 5K begins at 7:30 a.m. KTXR 1-Mile “Walk with the Gentle Giant” begins at 8:15 a.m. and St. John's Clinic - Orthopedic Specialists 10K begins at 8:30 a.m.

Sunshine Run participants are urged to arrive at Hammons Field prior to 7:30 a.m. for all three race events.  Best parking is available at the parking garage at John Q. Hammons and St. Louis. There is a fee to park. All streets along the race course will be closed during the race. Access will be permitted between runners and races. Access to parking lots within the race area will be allowed as possible. Drivers are advised to exit the parking garage West on St. Louis when leaving.

Event road closures

The following roads will close at 6:30 a.m.:
--East Trafficway from National Avenue to John Q. Hammons Parkway/Sherman Avenue
--Sherman from Chestnut Expressway to St. Louis Street

The following roads will close at 7 a.m.:
--East Trafficway from John Q. Hammons to Kimbrough Avenue
--Florence Avenue to McDaniel Street
--Hampton Avenue to McDaniel

The following roads will close at 7:30 a.m.:
--Kimbrough and East Trafficway
--St. Louis from National to JQH Parkway

The following roads and intersections will close at 8:30 a.m.
--Walnut Street at John Q. Hammons
--Elm Street at John Q. Hammons
--Cherry Street at John Q. Hammons
--Cherry at Holland Avenue
--Harrison Street at Holland
--Monroe Street at Holland
--Madison Street at Holland
--Holland to Grand
--Walnut at John Q. Hammons

BearFest Village will open at 9 a.m. in lots 22 and 24, south of Plaster Sports Complex. This will be the ultimate tailgating experience with food, games and entertainment for all ages. The event is free and open to the public.

The Homecoming football game will kick off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Plaster Sports Complex. Missouri State will play Youngstown State. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Missouri State box office at 836-7678 or 1-888-4-767-TIX. The Pride Band will perform and the Homecoming King and Queen will be announced at halftime.

A complete list of Homecoming events is available online at http://www.alumni.missouristate.edu/Homecoming.htm.