On Friday, April 7, the City of Fairfax and George Mason will hold a parade beginning at 11:15 a.m. to honor the outstanding success of the George Mason University Patriots men's basketball team. Alumni and guests are encouraged to attend and officially honor the team and this season's accomplishments!

The parade will start from Courthouse Plaza near the Safeway on Old Lee Highway (map) and go along University Drive to the George Mason campus. At Mason, the parade will turn left from University Drive onto Patriot Circle and go past the residence halls and the Aquatic and Fitness Center. Then the parade will turn onto Mason Pond Drive, ending at the Center for the Arts (map).

The parade is expected to end about noon, at which time the participants will go to the Johnson Center atrium for a rally and celebration.

Parking restrictions have been lifted on surface lots at Mason for Friday, so local residents can attend the parade and the Johnson Center celebration. View the parking map for available surface lots.

At the Johnson Center ceremony, City of Fairfax Mayor Robert Lederer will present the Keys of the City to Coach Larranaga, the team and President Merten; the Fairfax postmaster, Carl Karnish, will present a special postal cancellation that bears the Patriots logo; and Visit Fairfax, Fairfax County's tourism office, will present banners signed by well-wishers from throughout the county.

The parade caps a tremendously exciting season for the Patriots, who can claim an impressive list of "firsts":

• First trip to the NCAA Final Four in school history.
• First trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in school history.
• First trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in school history.
• First NCAA win in school history.
• First time the Patriots have defeated two top-10 teams, Connecticut and North Carolina.
• First season in school history with 27 wins and 497 assists.
• First season in school history to end with a .384 field-goal percentage defense and 58.9 scoring defense.
• First team from the Colonial Athletic Association to reach the Final Four.