Downtown State College will be flooded with thousands of onlookers and colorful floats this evening as campus and community groups prepare to celebrate homecoming weekend and demonstrate this year's theme, "Pride In Our Legacy."

The traditional homecoming festivities will begin this evening with the homecoming parade, followed by a campus pep rally, coronation of this year's homecoming king and queen and the guarding of the Lion Shrine.

"It's going to be a good time," said Jackie Fiorello, homecoming parade overall.

More than 170 groups will be participating in this year's parade, with a diverse mix of clubs and organizations marching.

"We have alumni groups, community groups, bands and student groups in the parade," Fiorello said.

Lineup for the parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. today, with the parade departing from the flower gardens at Beaver Stadium at 6 and making its way downtown by 6:30, Fiorello said.

Judging of the parade's float competition will take place at the Allen Street Gates as the floats pass by.

In the past, attendance at the parade has varied from 5,000 to 20,000 people, Fiorello said.

"I'm hoping for about 10,000 people," she said.

Tonight's parade will be the most significant of this evening's activities.

"The parade is our biggest event," homecoming public relations overall Melanie Ranalli said.

Following the conclusion of the parade at Burrowes Street, the annual pep rally will be held on the patio of Old Main and will feature appearances by Penn State athletic teams, the Blue Band, the Lion, Penn State cheerleaders and a video message put together by the football team, said Jen Rosenberg, homecoming king and queen overall.

This year's homecoming king and queen will be crowned at the end of the rally. Candidates were nominated in April and chosen because "they are a diverse group of students who represent the student body," Rosenberg said.

Students can vote for the 2006 homecoming king and queen at homecoming.psu.edu until noon today.

"Hopefully, the king and queen will be announced by 10 [p.m.]," Rosenberg said.

The guarding of the Lion Shrine, sponsored by Penn State's Lion Ambassadors, will begin at 10 p.m. and conclude the evening's festivities, Lion Ambassador Kristin Avagliano said.

Sue Paterno initiated the guarding of the shrine in 1966 as a way to invigorate school spirit, she said. About 700 people are expected to attend.

"Homecoming is totally based on tradition," Avagliano said. "What makes Penn State so special is that we are rich in tradition, and guarding the Lion Shrine is part of that."

Homecoming events are open to all of Penn State and the community, and will take place regardless of bad weather.

"It's a rain or shine event," Ranalli said.