May 4, 2016. Louisville, KY. – The event that started the Kentucky Derby Festival – the 61st annual Republic Bank Pegasus Parade – steps off TOMORROW, May 5, at 5 p.m. The parade will march west on Broadway from Campbell to Ninth Street. The parade is one of the festival’s most cherished and popular events, attracting thousands of spectators to downtown streets.
The theme of this year’s parade is “Fun for the Arts,” as the Festival pays tribute to all those groups who bring the arts to Louisville. “The arts and the Derby Festival go hand-in-hand in helping to form the cultural fabric of our community,” said Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO Mike Berry. “This will be 2016’s biggest hit on Louisville’s Broadway!”
Kentucky’s own Jordan Smith, winner of season 9 of The Voice and Republic Records recording artist, will serve as Grand Marshal of the 2016 Republic Bank Pegasus Parade. He’ll be joined by Honorary Grand Marshals – University of Louisville Seniors Damion Lee and Trey Lewis – fan favorites on the Men’s Basketball Team.
Other guests scheduled to appear in the Pegasus Parade include: Actor Will Chase of ABC’s hit show “Nashville” (born in Frankfort, KY); Adriana Madix, Tom Sandoval, Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor of Bravo TV’s “Vanderpump Rules”; Monte Durham of TLC’s “Say Yes To The Dress: ATL”; Ray J & Princess Love from VH1’s “Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood; Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell; Miss Kentucky 2015 Clark Davis; and Star Jones – Business Exec, Attorney, Best Selling Author and TV personality.
Floats from 11 sponsoring organizations will be featured: Belle Of Louisville, CenterStage/J Arts & Ideas at the JCC, City of St. Matthews, Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Hwang’s Martial Arts, Kentuckiana Pride Foundation, Kosair Shriners/Kosair Charities, Metro Parks & Recreation, Norton Healthcare, Second Chance @ Life, and The Fillies’, Inc.
The parade will also feature: 2 push floats, 15 equestrian units, 10 marching bands, and 31 specialty units.
9 Inflatable characters scheduled to participate include: AAA East Central (Otto the Auto), CareSource (Apollo from Pajanimals), Horseshoe Southern Indiana (Horseshoe), LG&E (Louie the Lightning Bug), Republic Bank (Peggy Bank), RiverLink (Giant Sun), Stage One Family Theatre (Dragon), Zaxby’s (Coca-Cola Bear), and ZirMed, Inc. (Scooby Doo).
