We don't have a homecoming parade, but we do
lawn displays that are basically the same premise. Other than that there are just a lot of events during the week that you get points for if you get a certain percentage of your house to participate. There is a "fun Run" on the Sunday, a diversity event, pep rally, banner contest, a Kareoke contest, and the Husker Howl variety act competition. In 2000 they had Tom Green come perform during the week too, and in the past they've had other big name performers. Supposedly they are going to have someone big come this year.
As for improving Homecoming, I'm not really sure what youre looking to do, but make it so that your freshmen don't view it as a chore. It seemed that all the freshmen/new members I knew weren't that into the whole week, but that the upperclassmen were. I know that we made that week a brotherhood week, and had some events to foster brotherhood, things like alumni coming for witness talks and a roundtable talking about what Beta has meant for everyone, also a basketball tournament was held the saturday before Homecoming week. So perhaps you could do something like that...whatever would increase sisterhood, maybe a ChiO only social event on the preceeding Saturday.