Winchester marching band
in annual 500 Festival Parade
The 500 Festival Organizing Committee announced Thursday the Winchester Community High School marching band “The Force” will take part in this year's annual 500 Festival Parade. The parade is Saturday, May 24
The Parade, now a 51 year tradition, attracts more than 300,000 spectators along the two-mile route. During this celebration spectators will have the chance to catch a glimpse the 33 starting drivers of the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500, specialty units, nationally-known celebrities including Grand Marshall Patricia Heaton, floats, marching bands and entertainment groups, giant inflatable balloons and costumed characters.
“The Force” recently competed at the Bands of America (BOA) Grand Nationals. The group has won many awards and honors including placing seventh overall in the 2007 Indiana State Fair Band Day Competition. The band will present music, costumes and flags that compliment the race atmosphere. Band director Matt Smiley will lead 106 participants to perform for the Parade crowd.
Parade spectators will also be entertained by the following bands: Elkhart Memorial High School; Graham High School Marching Falcons; Greenville High School Marching “Band of Pride;" Hampton High School Marching Band; IPS All-City Marching Band; Lapel High School; NBA Indiana All-Star Band; Purdue University “All American” Marching Band; Speedway High School 500 Regiment; The Pride of Capital High; The Richwood High School Lumberjack Express Band; and The Trojan Marching Band.
The IPL 500 Festival Parade provides an opportunity to see all 33 drivers set to start the Indy 500 in one place the day before the race. The Parade consistently ranks among the top three parades in the nation including the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Themed “Fuel the Dream,” this year's parade is a true representation of the power and pageantry of the month of May - a Hoosier tradition with a television package that will bolster the Parade's national presence. The IPL 500 Festival Parade will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and locally on WISH-TV.
