DERBY FESTIVAL PARADE ON SUNDAY
Secretariat Monument & New Pegasus Balloon to Make Debut on Broadway
April 27, 2023. Louisville, KY. – The event that started the Kentucky Derby Festival – the 68th annual Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade – steps off THIS SUNDAY, April 30, at 3 p.m. The parade will march West on Broadway from Campbell to 9th Street. This is the second year the parade has been held on Sunday to kick off Derby Week. It’s one of the festival’s most cherished and popular events and attracts thousands of spectators to downtown. The theme of this year’s parade is “Celebrating Derby Traditions,” to showcase all that is special and unique about the Derby Festival season to the community.
“The Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade showcases our community at its finest and is part of what makes this time of year so magical,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO. “We are proud to have a tradition that brings excitement and a sense of togetherness to our city. We think it’s the perfect start to Derby week and look forward to being back on Broadway this Sunday with our Festival fans and their families.”
Secretariat is being honored as this year’s Grand Marshal to mark the 50th anniversary of his historic Triple Crown win. A bronze monument of Secretariat in full stride will make its debut at the parade, as part of the “Secretariat: Larger Than Life 50th Anniversary Tour.” The monument will be accompanied by Kate Chenery Tweedy and Sarah Manning, daughters of Penny Chenery, Secretariat’s owner.
The Kentucky Derby Festival and Zoeller Pump Company will also unveil a new Pegasus inflatable at this year’s parade. The Pegasus is the Derby Festival’s mascot, and the large inflatable balloon has been a signature part of the parade since the 1980s. There have been different versions of the Pegasus balloon over the years. The Pegasus is part of the first unit and helps open the parade each year.
“We love Louisville and we support her where we can,” said Dwight Newton, Zoeller Pump Company Chief People Officer. “We want to be part of celebrating, and there is no better place than the Kentucky Derby Festival, and for us, the Pegasus Parade.”
VIPs scheduled to appear in the parade include Miss Kentucky Hannah Edelen; Ethan, American Hero Dog; Darnell “SuperChef” Ferguson; Jason Clayborn, International Gospel Recording Artist and more.
Floats from 8 sponsoring organizations will be featured: Faith Works Performing Arts, Festival of Stars, Hwang’s Martial Arts, Louisville Parks and Recreation, Norton Healthcare, Second Chance at Life, TCB Otis Entertainment, and The Fillies’, Inc. Presented by Luzianne Tea.
The parade will also feature: 7 equestrian units, 12 marching bands, and more than 30 specialty units.
6 Inflatable characters scheduled to participate include: Centennial Birthday Cake (Goodwill Industries of Kentucky), Buddy the Dinosaur (Waystar), Festival Pegasus & Goldie (Zoeller Pump Company), Gold Winged Pegasus (Sacred Heart Basketball), Red Cardinal (UofL Health).
Tickets for the Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade are still available. They can be purchased online at KDF.org up until 2 p.m. on parade day. Ticket prices are $10 for bleacher seats. Will call for tickets will be at the Derby Festival tent located at the corner of Northeast corner of Floyd and Broadway.
Zoeller Pump Company has been the Title Sponsor of the Pegasus Parade since 2020, joining Contributing Sponsor, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky. Official Health Care Provider: UofL Health. Official Hotel: The Galt House Hotel. Media Partner: WAVE.
