PARADE TRAVELS AROUND THE COMMUNITY ON APRIL 1
March 24, 2023. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival is kicking off its month-long celebration by traveling around the community with the 3rd annual Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade. Set for Saturday, April 1, the traveling display with nearly 20 units will cover over 80 miles and drive through more than 30 neighborhoods around Louisville and Jefferson County. The traveling parade will last from Noon until around 6 p.m. The route is posted online at KDF.org.
“We look forward to kicking off our month-long celebration with the Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade and getting the community in the Festival spirit,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO. “The Touring Parade will travel through some different neighborhoods this year. We encourage residents to check the route to see if we’ll be traveling in their area. Fans will also have a second chance to see a parade when we return to Broadway on Sunday, April 30.”
The Touring Parade will be traveling around the community on Saturday, April 1, from noon to 6 p.m. (rain or shine). Below are some of the areas and neighborhoods where the parade will travel.
- Noon: Leaves Ballard High School
- Between Noon – 1:30 p.m.: Graymoor-Devondale, Lyndon, Norwood, Beechwood Village, Woodlawn Park, Bellewood, Druid Hills, St. Matthews and Broadfield
- Between 1:45 – 3 p.m.: Seneca Park, Seneca Gardens, Belknap, Strathmoor Village, Hawthorne, Wellington, Strathmoor Manor, Deer Park, Cherokee Park, Cherokee Triangle, Highlands-Douglass, Bonnycastle, Original Highlands, Germantown, Schnitzelburg, Shelby Park, Smoketown, Phoenix Hill and NuLu
- Between 3 – 4:30 p.m.: Central Business District (Main Street), Portland, Shawnee Golf Course, Russell, Parkland and California
- Between 4:45 – 6 p.m.: Shawnee, Chickasaw, Parkland, Park DuValle, Hallmark, Algonquin, Shively and finishing at Zoeller Pump Company at around 6 pm.
The timing of when the parade arrives at each area will be pending traffic and logistics as it moves through the community. It will be traveling at about 15 mph to give residents a chance to see it. A complete list of the streets and areas along the touring parade route is posted online at KDF.org/touringparade.
“At Zoeller, we are looking forward to traveling around the community with the Derby Festival again and getting everyone excited for all the upcoming events,” said Dwight C. Newton, Zoeller Pump Company Chief People Officer. “For more than 84 years, the Zoeller Company has called Louisville home. We love this city and all of our team members, customers, suppliers and shareholders. The whole group is what makes this work. This partnership is just one way we can give a little back.”
The touring parade will feature:
4 Inflatable balloon characters: Zoeller Pump Company (Goldie Pegasus), Caesar, Gobo, and Daniel the Tiger
Festival VIPs: 2023 Derby Festival Board Chair, Ken Selvaggi and the 2023 Royal Court riding the Derby City Express
Specialty Units: Kosair Shriner’s Calliope, TARC Design-A-Bus showcasing local student artwork, on route music provided by Zoeller Pump Company
Along the route: KDF Spirit Squad will be onsite at the noon start, as well as a few stops along the route!
The Festival invites residents to line the sidewalks as the parade travels through the community. Fans can share photos of the Zoeller Pump Company Traveling Parade on social media using the hashtag #KyDerbyFestival as part of this year’s festivities.
The traditional Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade returns on a Sunday for the second year to help kick off Derby Week. It steps off at 3 p.m. on Broadway on April 30. This year’s theme is celebrating “Derby Traditions” and will feature nearly 100 units, including inflatables, floats, marching bands and equestrians.
The Pegasus Parade is the founding event of the Kentucky Derby Festival. The first parade marched in 1956 to create a way for the community to celebrate before the historic horse race. It was organized by just a handful of volunteers on a budget of $640. Since then, the Festival has become a whirlwind of many events.
Zoeller Pump Company is the Title Sponsor of the Touring Parade, joining Contributing Sponsor Kentucky Venues. Official Hotel: The Galt House Hotel.
