The 500 Festival is excited to announce the theme for the 2018 IPL 500 Festival Parade! This year's theme was inspired by two very important trends of the 500 Festival, the state of Indiana, and the city of Indianapolis.

2018 Parade Theme: Every May, the world turns its focus on Indianapolis. Beaming with civic pride and radiating a racing spirit, together we can present a city that shines bright at the forefront of a cutting edge world. 2018 is about illuminating the history, tradition, and sacrifices of our heroes on Memorial Day Weekend, while looking forward and saluting Indy’s commitment to innovation. This May, it’s “Showtime” for a city that deserves to be the star. So let’s turn the lights up high, point the camera on Indy, and take action for the 102^nd Running of the Indy 500. Illuminate. Innovate. Indianapolis. 

“The 2018 theme for the IPL 500 Festival Parade is very meaningful, not just for the mission of the 500 Festival and IPL, but for this entire city and its celebration of May," said Bob Bryant, president and CEO, 500 Festival. "Not only does our title sponsor IPL illuminate Indy every single day – and as a sponsor since the very first Parade in 1957 – but together we can highlight Indy’s commitment to innovation through this year’s celebration. It’s sure to be a spectacular occasion as we put Indy center stage and light it up for the world to take notice.”

The 2018 theme will be conveyed in numerous ways throughout the IPL 500 Festival Parade and other 500 Festival events. Parade floats are encouraged to embrace the challenge of exemplifying bright, neon, or metallic colors alongside light shows and other displays of illumination and innovation. Song choices for musical guests at the IPL 500 Festival Parade and the KeyBank 500 Festival Snakepit Ball will also be selected based on the theme of illumination and innovation in conjunction with the musical guests to be named later.

“We are incredibly excited about the theme for the 2018 IPL 500 Festival Parade," said Rafael Sanchez, president and CEO, IPL. "At IPL, we’ve leveraged opportunities to create new solutions for our customers through a number of sustainability, innovation and community involvement initiatives so this year’s theme is a home run. The idea of illuminating Indianapolis makes this celebration very special for us, and we can’t wait to help power the parade for the 62^nd time.”

Watch the illumination and innovation of Indianapolis in May 2018!