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Second-year students Leila Camgar, communications studies, and Rachel Donhau, political science, accept the "Sweepstakes Award" for the Alpha Delta Pi/Beta Theta Pi float in Friday’s Homecoming Parade.

Any perception that Bruins don’t have pride in their school was erased this weekend.

After a six-year hiatus, a sizable crowd of present and former Bruins converged on Le Conte Avenue early this weekend to watch UCLA’s homecoming parade.

A parade of papier-mache floats, fraternity “cowboys,” sorority “cowgirls,” student groups and alumni streamed up Gayley Avenue, past a grandstand of 1,600 spectators on Le Conte and continued down Westwood Boulevard Friday night. The western-themed festivities, dubbed “Wild, Wild Westwood” started at 8 p.m., and were emceed by KROQ DJs.

Many attendees commented that they felt the event was a success.

“I like it when it’s loud and there’s tons of people,” said Nancy Sin, a first-year undeclared student.

The alumni association sold blue and yellow blinkers for $5 a pair; many of them were worn as earrings or on sweatshirts, making the grandstands sparkle with blue and gold lights in the dark night as the parade passed by.

“There was a sense of excitement in Westwood I haven’t seen in years,” said Jim Moret, a 1978 alumnus and master of ceremonies for the rally held afterwards at the base of Broxton Avenue.

Several students attending felt school spirit had been running low lately, and thought the revival of homecoming would foster Bruin pride.

“After watching the past few football games, I think it was looking kinda grim,” said Chris Foster, a first-year life sciences student. “This might get us excited,” he added.

The rally held afterwards seemed to raise school spirit by bringing the UCLA community together for a night of high energy camaraderie.

“I think we were really lacking (in school spirit),” said Kate Stickle, a third-year history student. “But I think this brings the students and the alumni together,” she said.

Some of the more noticeable acts of the evening included the rowing team marching with their oars and singing the nursery rhyme “Row, row, row your boat,” the Dance Marathon “cowgirls” straddling toy horses, the alumni scholars marching to the beat of folded lawn chairs, and the Triangle Fraternity’s steamship float with members dressed up as gamblers and prostitutes.

Spirits in the crowd were even high enough to elicit applause for the UCPD when they were announced, represented by two squad cars.

At the rally, spontaneous chants of “UC! ... LA!” began before the rally got under way.

Some of the performances at the rally were the UCLA alumni band, Awaken A capella, and The Providers, an alternative rock group from San Diego.

There was an awards ceremony during the rally, presenting Alpha Delta Pi and Beta Theta Pi a trophy for best overall entry in the parade.