A group of high school students marches down an outdoor street lined with parked vehicles. In the center, students dressed in red, black, and white band uniforms hold up a large red banner reading "DALTON HIGH SCHOOL Marching Catamount Band Dalton, Georgia, U.S.A." Color guard members wearing purple dresses march alongside them holding flags on poles.

Dalton High School Announces 2026 Homecoming: "Cata-Fest: Celebrations Across the World"

Ashley Grycz

September 3, 2026

Dalton, GA ā€” Dalton High School will host its annual Homecoming celebration, themed "Cata-Fest: Celebrations Across the World," on Friday, September 25, 2026. The day's activities will include a pep session, a community parade through Downtown Dalton, and the Homecoming football game. Students will also enjoy a Homecoming dance on Saturday, September 26.

The festivities will begin with a Pep Session on the morning of Sept. 25 at 9:30 AM. Following the pep session, all vehicles must be moved to the West parking lot (the lower lot near the greenhouse and softball field).

Parade vehicles may begin arriving at Dalton High School starting at 12:00 p.m. on Sept. 25. Schools, community groups, and reunion classes are encouraged to be ready for departure by 3:45 p.m. The Homecoming Parade will officially leave Dalton High School at 4:00 p.m. and proceed through Downtown Dalton.

Alumni classes are invited to participate in this year's parade.

This yearā€™s parade will highlight Dalton High School alumni from the graduating classes of 1976, 1986, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016. Other alumni classes interested in participating are invited to contact Amy Gleaton at Amy.Gleaton@dalton.k12.ga.us.

For questions, contact Jennifer Blackburn at jennifer.blackburn@dalton.k12.ga.us or Leslie Felix at leslie.felix@dalton.k12.ga.us.

Parade Guidelines

Organizers ask all participants to note several important rules for this year's parade:

  • No candy may be thrown from vehicles. Per City of Dalton and Dalton Police Department requirements, candy and other objects must be handed out directly to spectators by a walking adult alongside the unit.

  • A DPS employee must ride on all school floats and vehicles. This requirement does not apply to reunion classes.

  • All DPS students riding in a parade vehicle must have a signed Non-DPS Vehicle Permission Form on file (included in the parade packet).

  • The parade officially concludes at Harmon Field. Riders returning from Harmon Field to Dalton High School should remain seated and use caution, as regular traffic rules apply for that portion of the trip.

  • New this year: Commercial flatbeds, semi-trucks, and tractor trailers are not permitted in the parade. Trailers may be no more than 36 inches off the ground and up to 40 feet long, and must be pulled by a pickup truck or dually.

Interested participants can find full details, including the Parade Application and Participant's Application, in the 2026 Homecoming Packet.

For additional information about Dalton High School's 2026 Homecoming events, please contact the school at (706) 876-4800.