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Norton Healthcare – Addison McGhee Sweepstakes Award for best overall float.
CenterStage at JCC – Board Chair’s Award
Louisville International Film Festival – President’s Award
Second Chance @ Life – Grand Marshal’s Award
Kosair Charities/Kosair Shriners – Queen’s Award
Chabad of Kentucky – Chairman’s Award
Grand Lodge of Kentucky – Honorable Mention
Hwang’s Martial Arts – Honorable Mention
Kentuckiana Pride Festival – Honorable Mention
UAW Local 862 – Honorable Mention
Ford Louisville Assembly Plant – Honorable Mention
Text – to – Win Competition
Chabad of Kentucky – People’s choice float award
Stage One Family Theatre – People’s Choice Inflatable Award
Equestrian Winners
American Side Saddle Association – Grand Champion Equestrian Unit
Hardin County 4-H Company B Equestrian Drill – First Place Best Mounted Equestrian Unit
Wells Fargo State Coach – Best Commercial Driven Equestrian Unit
Friends of Equine of All Sizes-Miniature – Best Non-Commercial Driven Unit
Seneca Valley Band – Grand Prize in the Caummisar Battle of the Bands Competition
610 Stompers – Ray Wimberg Speciatly Unit Award
LG&E – Earl Ruby Inflatable Spirit Award
Young Guns 4-H Equestrian Drill Team – Pooper Stars Award
PARADE WINNERS:
Norton Healthcare – Addison McGhee Sweepstakes Award for best overall float.
CenterStage at JCC – Board Chair’s Award
Louisville International Film Festival – President’s Award
Second Chance @ Life – Grand Marshal’s Award
Kosair Charities/Kosair Shriners – Queen’s Award
Chabad of Kentucky – Chairman’s Award
Grand Lodge of Kentucky – Honorable Mention
Hwang’s Martial Arts – Honorable Mention
Kentuckiana Pride Festival – Honorable Mention
UAW Local 862 – Honorable Mention
Ford Louisville Assembly Plant – Honorable Mention
Text – to – Win Competition
Chabad of Kentucky – People’s choice float award
Stage One Family Theatre – People’s Choice Inflatable Award
Equestrian Winners
American Side Saddle Association – Grand Champion Equestrian Unit
Hardin County 4-H Company B Equestrian Drill – First Place Best Mounted Equestrian Unit
Wells Fargo State Coach – Best Commercial Driven Equestrian Unit
Friends of Equine of All Sizes-Miniature – Best Non-Commercial Driven Unit
Seneca Valley Band – Grand Prize in the Caummisar Battle of the Bands Competition
610 Stompers – Ray Wimberg Speciatly Unit Award
LG&E – Earl Ruby Inflatable Spirit Award
Young Guns 4-H Equestrian Drill Team – Pooper Stars Award
The 2013 Pegasus Parade marched down Broadway on Thursday, May 2. This family-friendly annual event showcased some of the nation’s finest marching bands and equestrian units, along with inflatable characters and colorful floats that are designed and decorated to reflect the 2013 theme, “Now, That’s Entertainment!”
Led by the “Peggy Bank” inflatable Pegasus balloon, the parade marched west on Broadway for 17 blocks and lasted approximately two hours. Thanks to the sponsorship of Republic Bank, more than 90% of the parade route offered free public viewing.
Over the years, the Pegasus Parade has featured a wide variety of celebrities, including Grand Marshals such as Muhammad Ali, John Wayne, Loretta Lynn, William Shatner, Bill Monroe, Diane Sawyer, Colonel Harland Sanders, Rick Pitino, John Calipari, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and the 2013 University of Louisville Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams. 2013 saw both teams play for the NCAA Championship with the men’s team returning to Louisville with a Championship title and the women’s team taking the runner-up position.
Originating in 1956 on a budget of only $640, the Republic Bank Pegasus Parade is the Kentucky Derby Festival’s oldest event. Today, the Pegasus Parade is one of the largest in the country, contributing an estimated impact of more than $22 million to the local economy.
Click here for the clown application form.
Parade Host Hotel
Ramada Plaza Louisville
Ellen Lott
9700 Bluegrass Parkway
Louisville, KY 40299
502-491-4830 ext 5081
In 1956, the Pegasus Parade® was the first event held by the Kentucky Derby Festival®. With four volunteers and a budget of $640, the parade excited Louisvillians and their guests with floats, inflatables, marching bands, equestrian units, and celebrities traveling down Broadway. It was the start of a tradition that has become the cornerstone on which a festival was built.
Held each year on the Thursday before the Kentucky Derby, the Pegasus Parade showcases the community at its best. With dogwoods and tulips in full bloom, the stage is set on downtown’s main thoroughfare for one of the country’s largest and most entertaining spectacles.
Among the most spectacular units are the larger-than-life floats. Many are built by the employees or volunteers of the sponsoring groups, who take the awards competition very seriously. The result is one of the most animated, colorful displays in the country. In addition, some of the nation’s best high school bands blow the lines off the street with lively music. A staple of any parade in the Bluegrass state, beautiful equestrian units add more color and excitement. Giant inflatable character balloons, clowns and celebrities round out the mix of this annual rite of spring.
Highlights over the years have included the appearance of a Duke and a General. Hollywood stars such as John Wayne, Michael Landon, Lorne Greene and William Shatner have served as Grand Marshals of the parade.
Entertainers from Carol Channing and Liberace to Gladys Knight and Loretta Lynn have graced the route. And, of course, hometown heroes like Muhammad Ali and Colonel Harland Sanders have been favorites. Perhaps the most crowning achievement was the moving inclusion of General Norman Schwarzkopf in his first public appearance in the U.S. at the conclusion of the Gulf War.
The celebrities and heroes make for exciting additions to the annual march. Yet the real magic in the Pegasus Parade is in the faces of the thousands of participants and spectators who converge to make this annual rite of spring come to life each year. The grins on kids from ages 2 to 92 tell that story best.
The Parade marches west on Broadway from Campbell Street to Ninth Street. Sponsored by Republic Bank & Trust Company, the parade steps off at 5 pm and is led by the Festival’s lovable symbol, the Absolutely Pegasus balloon. Absolutely Pegasus is escorted down the route by watchful Republic Bank employees.
Now one of the Festival’s largest spectator events, the parade has a tremendous impact on the economy. It generates $14 million in economic activity annually. More than 500 volunteers help staff the two-hour production that includes and average of 2500 participants each year. The magical parade attracts crowds in excess of 200,000 along the 1.7-mile route.
The event has been broadcast live locally on NBC affiliate WAVE 3 TV since 1982. Willard Scott of NBC’s Today Show served as master of ceremonies from 1982-2005. The local broadcast brings the Parade an additional 200,000 viewers annually. The broadcast is aired again on Derby Day.
Parade enthusiasts can also get up close & personal with the floats and giant balloons just days before the Parade steps off. They can sneak a peek during the Parade Preview held the Tuesday before the parade. The Kentucky International Convention Center explodes with larger-than-life animation. Each float is displayed in all its splendor complete with dancing costumed characters. In addition, a taste of the entire parade is offered in this indoor carnival-like setting for more than 10,000 parade fans. Equestrian units, marching bands, large inflatable character balloons and the Royal court are on hand to give spectators an “inside” view of the parade.
Click here for a video from the first Pegasus Parade.
1956- “Pegasus Parade”
1957- “Famous Horses”
1958- “This Is Kentucky”
1959- “Famous Songs”
1960- “Famous Firsts”
1961- “Civil War Centennial”
1962- “Our American Heritage”
1963- “Great Adventures”
1964- “Happy Holidays”
1965- “Fairy Tales – Nursery Rhymes”
1966- “Festival Days ‘Round The World”
1967- Parade cancelled
1968- “Great Moments In American History”
1969- “The Wonderful World Of Music”
1970- “Rediscover America”
1971- “America The Beautiful”
1972- “Broadway On Parade”
1973- “Great Books”
1974- “Remember The Year”
1975- “The Land Of Make-Believe”
1976- “The American Dream”
1977- “A Child’s Dream”
1978- “Leisure Time”
1979- “World Of Entertainment”
1980- “Silver Celebration”
1981- “A Parade Of Festivals”
1982- “America, Kentucky-Style”
1983- “Springtime Magic”
1984- “America’s Tradition – Hometown USA”
1985- “The Magic Of Make-Believe”
1986- “The Whole World’s Getting Together”
1987- “Reflections of America”
1988- “Headed For The Future”
1989- “Festival: A Magic Moment In Time”
1990- “Festival: 35th Celebration”
1991- “Kentucky Derby Festival?: Vision Of The ’90s”
1992- “Celebrate Kentucky”
1993- “All for Fun, Fun for All!!”
1994- “Forever Young”
1995- “Magical Visions…Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow!”
1996- “Through a Child’s Eyes”
1997- “Frontiers Across the Centuries”
1998- “Hollywood on Broadway”
1999- “Music. . . That’s Entertainment”
2000- “Crowning Achievements”
2001- “A Galaxy of Fun”
2002- “Thrill of the Game”
2003- “The Spirit of Adventure”
2004- “Broadway Toon Town”
2005- “Rockin @ 50″
2006- “Once Upon A Toy”
2007- “Wonders, Wizards and Wands”
2008- “A World of Possibilities”
2009- “Destinations & Discoveries”
2010- “Spring Fever Reliever”
2011- “Heroic Adventures”
2012- “Family, Fun & Games”
2013- “Now That’s Entertainment”
1956- Tom Young, Superintendent of Churchill Downs
1957- Maj. Gen. John L. Ryan
1958- Dr. Phillip Davidson
1959- Maj. Gen. W. Paul Johnson
1960- Raymond Burr
1961- Dwayne Hickman
1962- Maj. Gen. J. E. Bastion
1963- Michael Landon
1964- Joe E. Brown, Edie Adams, Liberace
1965- Alan Hale, Jr.
1966- Robert Conrad
1967- Dale Robertson (Parade cancelled)
1968- Jimmy Ellis
1969- Fess Parker
1970- Peter Graves
1971- Ed Asner
1972- Lorne Greene
1973- Rod Steiger
1974- Lynn Stone
1975- Joe B. Hall, Denny Crum
1976- John Wayne
1977- Col. Harland Sanders
1978- Foster Brooks
1979- Phyllis George
1980- Darrell Griffith, Kyle Macy
1981- Muhammad Ali
1982- Gov. A. B. “Happy” Chandler
1983- Bill Monroe
1984- Diane Sawyer
1985- Rosemary Clooney
1986- Ricky Skaggs
1987- Ned Beatty
1988- Annie Potts
1989- Danny Sullivan
1990- John Forsythe
1991- Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf
1992- William Shatner
1993- Gladys Knight
1994- Willard Scott
1995- Pat Day, Terry Wilcutt
1996- Coach Rick Pitino
1997- Capt. Scott O’Grady
1998- Gloria Stuart
1999- Loretta Lynn
2000- Tori Murden-McClure & Miss America Heather Renee French
2001- Buzz Aldrin & Denny Crum
2002- Winter Olympic Bronze Medalists: U.S. Bobsled Team
2003- Little League World Series Champions: Valley Sports American
2004- Cathy Guisewite: Creator of “Cathy” comic strip
2005- Chubby Checker
2006- Muhammad Ali
2007- Mickey Mouse (Grand Magician: Mac King)
2008- Bobby Flay (Honorary Grand Marshal: Patrick Henry Hughes)
2009- Professional golfer Kenny Perry and his father, Ken
2010- Diane Lane and Penny Chenery
2011- Congressional Medal of Honor recipients: World War II veteran Hershel “Woody” Williams of West Virginia; Korean War veteran Ernie West of Russell, Ky.; Vietnam War veteran Gary Littrell of Henderson, Ky; and Vietnam War veteran Don Jenkins of Quality, Ky. (Honorary Grand Marshals: Bellarmine University’s NCAA Division II men’s national champion basketball team)
2012- Cyndi Lauper
2013- University of Louisville Men’s & Women’s Basketball Teams
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