AES
500 Festival Parade

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Web: 500festival.com

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For more than 60 years, the AES 500 Festival Parade has celebrated the world's largest single-day sporting event—the Indianapolis 500—and is traditionally held on the day before the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

The AES 500 Festival Parade is one of the nation's largest, most-respected parades with a storied tradition of featuring the best bands in America. Bands selected to participate will perform for the 200,000+ attendees that line the 2-mile route, which travels the streets of downtown Indianapolis.

The parade is broadcast nationally on Peacock and to the Indianapolis market on WTHR, Channel 13 (NBC affiliate). The entire parade is also live streamed with no breakaways via WTHR's Band Cam.

The AES 500 Festival Parade lineup also includes larger-than-life floats, giant helium balloons, celebrities, and all 33 drivers competing in the Indy 500. The parade route travels through downtown Indianapolis, taking a U-shaped path down Pennsylvania Street, across Washington Street and up Meridian Street through Monument Circle.

Participating Bands
Over the years, more than 65 bands have participated in the AES 500 Festival Parade. For a complete listing, please visit 500festival.com/parade/bands.

Apply to Be a Participating Marching Band
• 2024 Application

• 2025 Application

• 2026 Application

Bands traveling to Indianapolis for the AES 500 Festival Parade can take advantage of numerous attractions and additional performance opportunities in the area, including:

• The Indianapolis 500 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• The American Legion 500 Festival Memorial Service
• Events and activities taking place in Indianapolis on race weekend

• Tickets for attendees will go on sale in March 2024. Check back at 500festival.com/parade.

Saturday, May 25, 2024
Saturday, May 24, 2025
Saturday, May 23, 2026
(Always held the Saturday before Memorial Day, one day before the Indianapolis 500)

Web: 500festival.com

Email: Contact Us

If you're interested in entering your band in the AES 500 Festival Parade, please request an application at the contact info above.