A rainy, cold night made for a sparse showing at this year’s Ohio State Homecoming parade Friday.

A little past 6 p.m., drums were heard down Woodruff Avenue. The Best Damn Band in the Land marched up the street, looking soaked to the bone as they played OSU’s fight songs.

But a little rain didn’t stop all the usual suspects from being a part of the parade. Cheerleaders, military groups, fire trucks, the homecoming court and several other campus organizations participated.

Michael Starr, a senior in physics and human resources, and Stephanie Wiseman, a senior in economics, were announced homecoming king and queen on Saturday at the Ohio Stadium, where the football team clobbered the University of Minnesota 44-0.

Despite the glum weather, the mood was upbeat and cheerful at the parade. Nearly every car that rolled past blasted “Hang On Sloopy” from its speakers.

The most hard-core students, alumni and families braved the weather and lined the streets wearing scarlet and gray.

Some children showed up dressed head to toe in OSU gear, but wore Halloween costumes, carrying small bags for candy.

A man wearing a “Buckeyeman” jersey with the number “0” strolled along in the parade, stylishly clad in beads and a scarlet and gray wig, passing out buckeyes to kids.

“I’ve never been so cold and prune(y) before,” said Shelly Hansen, a junior and part of the group representing Habitat for Humanity in the parade. She and others wore hard hats, and one person dressed as a hammer.

The Biological Science Honorary Helix/BBB showed up with a poster that showed a crossed out blue and yellow “M” which evolved slowly into an animal, a walking ape and, ultimately, Brutus. Their point: to show evolution is a wonderful thing.

Sphinx, the senior honorary, presented behind their banner a huge moving pyramid, which was the idea of Chris Smith, a senior in operations management, and driver of the float.

In addition to campus organizations, some local businesses also made a showing.

Lave, a store in south campus Gateway, showed up with a bright purple float featuring a woman in a tub.

Homecoming week ended on Sunday after Jon Stewart performed a free show for students at the Schottenstein Center and the Spielman Walk/Run 5k benefit for breast cancer research.