By Sarah Jeitz,
BELLE FOURCHE–Belle Fourche Schools kicked off homecoming Friday afternoon with the annual homecoming parade, bringing students, families and community members together along its usual 13th Avenue route.
The theme for Homecoming 2026 was “Board Games,” and participants took the theme in many different directions. The parade route was lined with families, children, and community members, many dressed in Bronc gear, while painted faces, colored hair, and even painted bodies added to the homecoming spirit.
The parade was led by the color guard and Belle Fourche High School band, followed by Parade Marshals Kelly Keegan and Clay Birkeland and the homecoming royalty. Homecoming King Gabe Raba and Queen Austey Stiefvater rode together in the back of a classic green Ford pickup, waving to the crowd as they made their way down 13th Ave.
The Class of 2027 brought the board-game theme to life with a Candy Land inspired float, while the Class of 2028 took on Operation.
Miss Leann’s Preschool also went all in on Candy Land with a colorful float featuring oversized lollipops, large cupcakes, and banners lined with colored squares resembling the game’s board. The float even incorporated a small playhouse transformed into a gingerbread house.
Another entry put a Belle Fourche spin on Monopoly with a “Bronc-opoly” theme. The float featured game-inspired decorations and props, including large cards for spaces such as “Victory Lane” and “Touchdown Alley” with listed rent prices. Some lucky spectators along the route were also handed stacks of giant Bronc-opoly money, much to the delight of the younger crowd.
The Belle Fourche High School football team joined the parade on a float, while the soccer team rode along on the purple Belle Fourche Volunteer Fire Department Engine 3.
The Belle Fourche Middle School band, consisting of 7th and 8th graders marched in the parade as well, adding to the traditional homecoming atmosphere.
For longtime Belle Fourche residents, there’s something pretty special about seeing these homecoming traditions continue year after year, especially when the next generation seems just as excited about them as they were years ago.
Friday’s parade offered a little bit of that hometown nostalgia, with plenty of Bronc spirit to set the tone for the rest of the evening’s festivities.
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