Grand Marshals Announced, Line-Up Set for May 2 Event
April 16, 2019. Louisville, KY. – This year’s Republic Bank Pegasus Parade will celebrate everyone’s favorite superheroes. Themed “Pegasus Power,” the Kentucky Derby Festival is inviting everyone who comes to the parade to dress in superhero costumes. Also in costume will be this year’s Grand Marshals, who are heroes in comic books and on the big screen – Black Panther, Spider-Man, Captain America and Black Widow. The Marvel Characters will ride down Broadway on May 2.
“The parade has been bringing families and the community together for more than 60 years,” said Mike Berry, KDF President and CEO. “This year’s parade will be one for the kid in all of us and we can’t wait to see fans in their favorite superhero costumes!”
In addition to announcing the Grand Marshals, floats and inflatable units participating in this year’s parade drew for positions for annual march down Broadway. This year’s “Pegasus Power,” theme will be used by sponsoring companies to help direct the building of floats and costuming of the inflatable handlers and crew. The floats and inflatables compete for various awards based on originality, eye appeal, theme representation, animation, attention to detail and enthusiasm. Marching bands use the theme to help with musical selection and it is the basis of costume and concept design for the other marching units.
The 2019 Parade will feature 11 floats, many of them built by the employees of the companies sponsoring them. The following companies drew for their float position in the parade at tonight’s event, as well as the sponsors of the six participating inflatable character balloons.
Floats:
- City of St. Matthews
- Grand Lodge of Kentucky
- Hwang’s Martial Arts
- Kentucky Farm Bureau
- Kentucky Proud
- Kosair Shriners/Kosair Charities
- Louisville Parks & Recreation
- Louisville Zoo
- Norton Healthcare
- Second Chance at Life
- The Fillies, Inc.
Inflatable Balloon Characters:
- CareSource “Super Grover”
- Central High School “Daniel Tiger”
- Horseshoe Southern Indiana “Horseshoe”
- LG&E “Louie the Lightning Bug”
- Republic Bank “Peggy Bank”
- Waystar “Secretariat”
Before the parade, fans can see the floats, inflatables, equestrian units and much more on display at the Pegasus Parade Preview Party on Tuesday, April 30, at the Kentucky Exposition Center, in South Wing C. Admission is a 2019 Pegasus Pin.
Tickets for the Parade are on sale now online at KDF.org. Ticket prices are $10 for bleacher seats and $12 chair seating. Republic Bank is the Title Sponsor of the parade with Contributing Sponsor, KentuckyOne Health Louisville Region. Official Hotel: The Galt House.
