Characters from Shrek, Care Bears, Family Guy and The Incredibles came together Friday night to dance, sing and celebrate Penn State's annual homecoming parade.

Children gasped at their favorite cartoon characters marching down the parade path as parents and community members experienced yet another year of Penn State tradition.

State College resident Logan Osgood-Jacobs said she and her friends have been attending the homecoming parade since they were kids.

"The floats are really amazing this year, and the themes are really creative," Osgood-Jacobs said. "The parade seems to be moving at a better speed this year, too."

The parade began near Beaver Stadium with police cars and fire engines, followed by the Penn State Alumni Blue Band and numerous floats.

Sigma Nu fraternity, 340 N. Burrowes Road, and the Society of Women Engineers won first place in the float competition for their Shrek float, which featured a detailed castle, a fairy princess, a donkey and students dressed as Shrek characters dancing through the streets.

Parade Overall Kristen Smead said most groups were very cooperative and diligent in following the rules to make the parade a success.

"The parade was less than two hours long, which was our goal," she said.

On College Avenue, the crowd erupted in laughter as the men's club lacrosse team came pirouetting by with Volé, Penn State's ballet club. The crowd also laughed as a Phroth member being pushed in a grocery cart fell over on the street.

Andrew Davis (sophomore-electrical engineering) said he loved the Campus Crusade for Christ Newsies float but was disappointed by the parade's length.

"All the floats looked really well-made this year," Davis said. "I was just disappointed that the parade was so short; they should just let it go as long as possible."

At the end of the parade, the Penn State Blue Band came marching through campus and downtown, pumping up students and community members for the football game against Purdue.

Smead said the parade was a complete success, despite its shortening this year by 50 percent.

"As far as reaching our goals, the parade was completely successful," Smead said. "It's sad that I won't be working with my captains or the overall committee anymore, but it's such a relief to be done."

Following the parade, about 300 students gathered at Old Main for the homecoming pep rally and to hear the announcement of homecoming king and queen.

Homecoming parade Grand Marshal Anne Riley, Class of 1964 and a member of the Penn State Board of Trustees, said she was honored to be a part of the celebration and she thought the homecoming theme perfectly displayed Penn State pride.

"I have a hard time thinking of anything better than 'The Heart of the Lion' as this year's homecoming theme," Riley said.

Leading up to the announcement of the homecoming queen and king, organizations such as Whiplash, Penn State's fencing team and Orchesis Dance Company performed short numbers at the pep rally.

After the homecoming court was presented, King and Queen Overall Jennifer Hernandez announced Tahiirah Allen (senior-broadcast journalism) and Theodore Jackson (senior-finance) as the 2005 Homecoming Queen and King.