ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University will celebrate its annual homecoming week with the 109th Gypsy Day Parade and homecoming football game on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. This year's homecoming theme, "Wolves Through Time," promises a tasteful celebration as the Northern and Aberdeen communities come together for this time-honored tradition.
The parade will begin at 9 a.m. on Main Street, with a wide variety of creative floats, marching bands and community entries expected to participate. Parade-goers are encouraged to bring chairs and bags for collecting goodies along the route. For everyone's safety, please remain on the sidewalks and ensure children do not approach the floats.
Parade Details:
The 2025 Gypsy Day Parade will feature 121 floats and 15 bands, including entries from local businesses, organizations and schools. The parade will start at the intersection of North Main Street and Eighth Avenue Northeast, running south along Main Street until 12th Avenue Southeast. To accommodate the parade, there will be no parking along Main Street from Eighth Avenue Northeast to 12th Avenue Southeast beginning at midnight Friday, Sept. 19.
As the parade marches on, excitement will build for the Gypsy Day football game, where the Northern State Wolves will face off against Concordia-St. Paul at 2:30 p.m. in Dacotah Bank Stadium. Tailgating will begin at noon in the Dacotah Bank Stadium parking lot.
Additional Homecoming Events:
The parade and game are part of a week of homecoming festivities running from Sept. 15 to Sept. 20, 2025. Other key events include the coronation of the 2025 homecoming royalty, which will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, in the Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater at the Johnson Fine Arts Center, followed by the burning of the W in the Barnett Center parking lot. The women's soccer team game and the Steps for Shep 5K race are also highlights of the week.
Homecoming Royalty:
This year's homecoming king candidates are:
- Blake Clay
- Gunnar Larson
- Taylor Thorson
- Jaedan Shaving
- Jacob Angerhofer
The homecoming queen candidates are:
- Morgan Sheldon
- Addison Cumbow
- Chasity Lewis
- Ann Sarah Paul
- Renea Taylor
Schedule of Events:
Thursday, Sept. 18
7 p.m. – Queen and King Coronation, Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater at the Johnson Fine Arts Center. Burning of the W to follow at Barnett Center parking lot
Friday, Sept. 19
4 p.m. – Gerber Building Ribbon Cutting and Open House
6 p.m. – Women's Soccer Game: NSU vs. Winona State at Athletic and Recreation Fields
Saturday, Sept. 20
7 a.m. – Steps for Shep 5K registration, Barnett Center.
9 a.m. – Gypsy Day Parade, Main Street.
Noon – Gypsy Day Tailgate, Dacotah Bank Stadium parking lot
2:30 p.m. – Football Game: Northern State University vs. Concordia-St. Paul at Dacotah Bank Stadium
Parade Lineup:
- Color Guard - Troop 188
- Exchange Club of Aberdeen
- NSU Band + Cheer + Dance + Thunder
- NSU Foundation - Parade Marshal - Chad Harlander
- NSU Foundation - Dr. Laurie Nichols
- NSU Foundation - Outstanding Faculty - Dr. Amy Dolan & Dr. Salvador Villegas
- NSU Foundation - Philanthropists - Jim & Tracy Thares
- NSU Foundation - Distinguished Alumni/G.O.L.D - Kerry Konda & Dakotah Popehn
- NSU Foundation - HOF '92-'93 Women's Track Team
- NSU Foundation - HOF Arden Rapp & Kretchman Award - Todd Thorson
- NSU Foundation - HOF Makayla Arechigo & Conner Doherty
- NSU Foundation - Alumni Association
- Sen. John Thune
- Aberdeen City Mayor
- Royal Order of the Gyps
- Aberdeen Central High School Marching Band
- Homecoming Committee
- Northern State Nursing
- Northern State Athletics
- Northern South Dakota Pheasants Forever Chapter
- NSU International Program
- St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center
- NSU Tae Kwon Do and Kumdo Club
- Honors Club
- Hoven School Marching Band
- My Place Hotels of America
- Avera St. Luke's
- Legacy Financial Partners
- Cool Cart Parts, LLC
- Aberdeen Fire Rescue
- Hub City Radio
- RDO Equipment
- The Pachyderm Club
- Holgate/Simmons Middle School Marching Band
- Dacotah Bank
- Primrose Retirement Communities, LLC
- Plains Commerce Bank
- First Premier Realty
- Area Federal Credit Union
- Derian Place and Derian Lodge Senior Living
- FirePlace Glo
- eXp Realty
- Harris Machine Co.
- Northwestern Area School Marching Band
- Agtegra Cooperative
- Aberdeen Hockey Association
- Kessler's
- Aberdeen Family YMCA
- Doeden Investment Group
- Toby Doeden for South Dakota
- Dakota Roots Health Care
- Sammy's Omelette Shop
- Roncalli Marching Band
- House Doctors Painting and Restoration
- South Dakota Snow Queen
- DRN ReadiTech
- SkateAway
- LifeServe Blood Center
- Thrivent
- Aberdeen Gymnastics Association
- Aberdeen Aqua Addicts
- Dakotaland Federal Credit Union
- Ipswich School Marching Band
- Aberdeen Christian School
- Ophthalmology Associates & iSurgey
- Lighthouse Preschool
- Aberdeen Post of The American Legion
- Aberdeen Police Department
- Crawford Trucks & Equipment Inc.
- Aberdeen Wrestling Club
- Miss Rodeo Aberdeen Queens
- Warner School Marching Band
- Brown County Fair & 4-H
- Brown County Auditor's Office
- JGE-Bobcat of Aberdeen
- Brown County Republicans
- Aberdeen Optimist Club
- Kore Cares In-Home Services
- Marine Corps League Glacial Lakes Detachment 852
- Redfield School Marching Band
- Miss Aberdeen Committee
- Beyond The Balloon
- Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
- Aberdeen Swim Club
- Yelduz Shriners
- The Aberdeen Insider
- Transource Truck & Equipment
- Aberdeen Rural Firefighters
- Leola School Marching Band
- CC Croal Post 17 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary
- Caleb's Aquatics
- Brown County Sheriff's Office
- Driftbusters Snowmobile Club Inc.
- Furreal Pawsibilities
- Crafted Interiors
- North Highland UMC
- Miller School Marching Band
- Babcock Family Chiropractic
- Moose Lodge 590
- Harr Motors
- Climate Control Inc.
- 3M Aberdeen
- The Salvation Army
- Frederick Area School Marching Band
- Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce
- Horton Inc.
- Sanford Aberdeen
- Aberdeen Lion's Club
- House of Glass, Inc.
- First Reformed Church
- Scottish Rite
- Sully Buttes Marching Band
- Heartland Powersports, LLC
- Summers Manufacturing
- Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
- Jark Worlie Auction Service
- Budget Furniture
- The Pooch Parlor
- Britton-Hecla School Marching Band
- South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Vacant
- BIA Office of Justice Services - District I Office
- Twin City Fan
- Moose Bingo
- South Dakota Army National Guard
- Monae for South Dakota
- Colorful Creations
- Heartland Casino
- Groton Area Marching Band
- BigIron Auctions
- United States Postal Service
- Jon Hansen for Governor
- Four Dogs, LLC
- Miss Hub City Scholarship Organization
- John E.
- Titan Machinery