Cox is number 6 in the lineup, right behind the Vista Ridge cheerleaders and ahead of Reagan, Reed and Rutledge. The parade runs entirely inside the Gupton Stadium parking lot, not on the public streets: it circles the stadium on the main driveway, with spectator areas along the north and east sides, and lasts about 30 minutes. A public pep rally follows, then fireworks. No candy is handed out during the parade this year; the school asks groups to save it for Trunk or Treat.

• After 4:00 PMFloat set-up in the west lot at Gupton. The float crew brings the truck and supplies in from E Park St.
• 6:00 PMCox line-up at spot 6 in the west lot. Wear your Cox gear and bring your Comet spirit.
• 6:30 PMGupton closes to cars. Anyone arriving after 6:30 parks at Vista Ridge and walks over.
• 7:00 PMThe parade starts at the south drive and runs about 30 minutes.
• About 7:30Cox families: the parade ends and Comets are picked up in the west parking lot behind the home-side concession stands, no later than 7:30 PM. Volunteers stay until every Comet is picked up.
• About 7:30Pep rally in Gupton Stadium, open to everyone, with fireworks right after, sponsored by the Vista Ridge Football Booster Club.
• About 8:30Everything wraps up. Then home.

All Cox Elementary students, families, and staff are invited: grab a seat on the float or walk alongside, show your Comet spirit, and help celebrate 25 amazing years of learning, growing, and shining together. Wear your Cox gear. The float lines up with the other elementary schools in the staging lot and follows the school’s parade rules.

• After 4:00 PMFloat crew set-up in the west lot. Volunteers decorating the float come in from E Park St with the supplies.
• 6:00 to 6:30Meet at the Cox float, spot 6 in the west lot behind the home stands. Be inside before Gupton closes at 6:30; after that, park at Vista Ridge and walk over.
• 7:00 PMThe parade starts. Riders stay on the float while it is moving and climb off only after it has come to a complete stop at the end. Walk alongside, or watch from the spectator areas.
• By 7:30 PMPick-up in the west parking lot directly behind the concession stands on the home side. A student whose parent is not walking must be picked up promptly when the parade ends, no later than 7:30 PM.

• Every rider needs the participant consent form, signed. Hand it to the float driver at staging on Wednesday, drop it at the Vista Ridge front office, or fill it out online and email it to the parade organizer. The school is already filled in. Both forms are also on the Vista Ridge Student Council parade page. The float driver also files the school’s driver consent form with a copy of a driver’s license and insurance card; a photo is fine.
• Getting there: riders and walkers get dropped at the front of Vista Ridge or outside the stadium and walk in. The float entrance from E Park St is for the float and its supplies only. After 6:30, everyone parks at Vista Ridge.
• No candy from the float this year. Wave, cheer and shine instead.

Parking: park at Vista Ridge or Henry Middle School and walk over. Gupton closes to cars at 6:30. The Gupton lots are for parade vehicles only, and the east lot is off limits under the fireworks. Please stay out of the neighboring business lots. Gupton Way closes to through traffic during the parade. After the pep rally it is dark and full of pedestrians, so go slow.

Where to stand: the spectator areas run along the north and east sides of the route. Watch for the Cox float in the elementary group, then head into the stadium for the pep rally.

Help us shine! Every bit of support makes the float and the celebration unforgettable for our students. Check out the Amazon wish list and hook us up with some sweet decor and party favors.

Three floats, three first-place ribbons, and a lot of glitter. A look back at 2023, the year the Comets reached for the stars.