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It’s homecoming week for Columbia’s Hickman and Rock Bridge High Schools.

One of the biggest homecoming traditions has been cancelled this year.

Columbia School Superintendent Chris Belcher cancelled this year’s homecoming parade for Hickman and Rock Bridge High Schools because of road construction in Downtown Columbia and an estimated 15,000 Alabama fans coming to Columbia this weekend for the Mizzou football game.  The parade was scheduled for Friday afternoon.

Belcher said, “It wasn’t worth the risk that we would take.  The kids will get to do something at their local school.  Being blest with living here in Columbia, Missouri, we’ll have the big Mizzou homecoming parade that parents and families will be able to see their kids march in that parade and do those kinds of things.”

Some Hickman High School students are upset over the decision to cut this year’s homecoming parade.  Senior Luke Sabulsky is a drummer for the Hickman Marching Band.

Sabulsky said, “As the school goes as a whole, I feel like it’s not as big a deal as it usually is.  I feel like for homecoming queen candidates and especially for people who are in the marching band who are very disappointed that we don’t get to perform in front of the community like we usually do.”

This year’s cancellation not only affects students who are in the parade.  It also impacts the students who just want to watch.  Rock Bridge Senior Troy Guthrie was in charge of video recording the parade for his journalism class.

Guthrie said, “In years before, they’ve seen all of the girls drive by in their cars with their escorts.  It is part of their moment and their week.  They got cheated out of that this year.”

School administrators said homecoming parade attendance has been down in recent years after school officials cut the junior high marching bands from the parade line up.

Rock Bridge High School administrators plan to recognize homecoming court candidates during a school assembly on Friday.

University of Missouri President Tim Wolfe will also be inducted into the Rock Bridge Alumni Hall of Fame at that same ceremony.