Indy 500 Parade

Ok I’m not from Indiana. I’ve never been to the Indy 500. I don’t really get into racing.
That being said, I was here over Memorial Day weekend visiting friends, and we were looking for things to do. I had no idea that it was the same weekend as the Indy 500 (oops). So we ended up coming here since it was a nice day and it was something to do. It’s your typical parade with balloons, bands, dancers, etc. Along with that, they have each of the drivers in the parade, as well as some other celebrities (not going to lie… I didn’t know any of them).
It’s fun for the kids I’m sure, and if you get into the race and want to see the drivers then it would be exciting. But we didn’t even end up staying for the whole thing. It got to be a little boring after a while. I think it’s crazy that people pay for tickets to see this… but like I said, it’s just not my thing. We got there a little early and were able to find a decent standing spot along the street (for free), and had a pretty easy time seeing everything.

Such a fun event. My family has gone every year and it never gets old. The parade really gets you excited for Indy500 and always makes me so proud of my city.
There are always so many interesting celebrities including people from Shark Tank, the Voice, and the Olympics. The highlight of last year was when Florence Henderson’s car stopped working and a bunch of dads in front of us ran out of the crowd to push her car for the rest of the route. Ah, chivalry.
The only reason I didn’t rate it five stars is because of how crowded it is. You have to get there really early and usually park far away. But a crowded event means it’s popular for a reason right?!

We’ve attended the parade most years that we’ve lived in Indy and we always have a good time. It’s just one of those «Month of May» activities that you should check out. We always bring our own chairs and sit just behind the paid seats. If you get there early you can be in the third row and have an excellent view. We also sit on the east side of Penn and stay in the shade the majority of the parade. There are fun balloons, floats, and marching bands to enjoy. It’s really exciting to see all of the drivers too. The celebrities can be hit or miss. I’m always excited about the local celebrities but typically the others are, «wait, who’s that!?» In any case. It’s a fun time and you should go at least once.

Always a great part of Memorial Day weekend and an awesome event for kids, but as an adult, this parade has lost its lackluster over the past few years. Disappointed in lack of celebs this year…

When most people think of Indianapolis in May, the Indy 500 immediately comes to mind. Well, did you also know there are events throughout the month of May leading up to the race? One such event is the Indy 500 Parade, a tradition dating back to 1957 that brings over 300,000 spectators from around the country to the streets of downtown Indy on the eve of the race. It’s Indianapolis’ own Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day Parade. but with better weather and a much shorter distance to travel!
This years parade certainly didn’t disappoint. It had everything. floats, celebrities, politicians, marching bands, and lots and lots of people. Really. LOTS of people. Television helicopters circled the event to televise, kids cheered, people waved, and everyone left happy! A tip for next time though. get there early and stake out your spot. Bring a lawn chair too!