TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Watch for an invasion of creatively decorated fiberglass elephants along the streets and sidewalks of Tuscaloosa and The University of Alabama campus this fall.

“Elephants on Parade” is scheduled to make its debut at the beginning of UA’s annual homecoming week on Oct. 23. The plan to bring the four-foot-tall colorful elephants to Tuscaloosa is a joint project of the UA Student Government Association, UA’s National Alumni Association and the Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The plans will be announced to the public at the Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Stars of the Industry awards ceremony, Thursday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bean-Brown Theater at Shelton State Community College.

Similar projects have been carried out in cities ranging from Chicago to Dothan. Chicago’s “Cows on Parade” was the first such event, and the cows have since traveled to other cities. Dothan’s project featured peanuts. Other parades have included fish in New Orleans, angels in Los Angeles, bulldogs in Athens, Ga., cows in Atlanta and carousel horses in Meridian, Miss.

UA students Will Paddock and Carmen Farmer are directing the “Elephants on Parade” project. Both are also vice-chairs of the SGA Homecoming committee,

Paddock said the elephants will be revealed at an unveiling ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 23. An official Elephants on Parade guide, with a map to locations of elephants, will be available on Monday, Oct. 24 in “Planet Weekly” and at the Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Organizers are currently seeking “zookeepers” and artists to become involved in the project. “Zookeepers” are businesses, organizations and individuals who will act as sponsors for a specific elephant.

These companies or individuals will buy into packages that will be available in a variety of price brackets and will include advertising benefits and vouchers. Sponsors will also receive tickets to many homecoming events, luncheons, dinners and appreciation parties.

Local and regional artists are invited to apply to decorate an elephant. As part of the application process, artists will be asked submit designs to a panel of judges.

Following homecoming week, on Oct. 30, the elephants will be auctioned off to raise funds for the National Alumni Association’s Heritage Scholarship Fund. The elephants will be displayed in various Tuscaloosa locations throughout 2005. Purchasers will take possession of their elephants on Jan. 1, 2006.

For more information or to sign up as a “zookeeper,” go to http://sga.ua.edu/elephant, send e-mail to elephant@bama.ua.edu or contact Paddock at 937/974-6151 or Farmer at 205/296-5802.