Presented by Riley Children’s Health, the program brings the history, innovation and traditions of the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 to students through hands-on lessons, classroom resources and immersive field trip experiences. 

INDIANAPOLIS (August 3, 2026) – Following another successful year that reached 25,700 students from 360 Indiana schools, the 500 Festival today announced registration is open for the 2027 500 Festival & Indianapolis 500 Education Program, presented by Riley Children’s Health. Indiana educators may register by clicking here.  

The free program, available to all Indiana fourth-grade classrooms during the spring 2027 semester, gives students hands-on opportunities to explore the history, innovation and traditions of the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 through classroom lessons, educational resources and immersive field trip experiences. 

The curriculum aligns with Indiana Academic Standards across language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health, physical education, and visual arts. Teachers receive ready-to-use lesson plans and classroom materials that make it easy to bring Indiana’s racing heritage and community traditions into the classroom. 

Students culminate the program with either a Study Trip to Indianapolis Motor Speedway or a Mobile Trip, where the 500 Festival brings interactive educational experiences directly to participating schools. These experiences allow students to connect classroom learning with one of Indiana’s most iconic racing traditions. 

Program By the Numbers 

• 527,000+ students served since the program launched in 2004 

• 21,900+ classrooms reached across 76% of Indiana counties since 2004  

• 360 schools and 25,700 students participated in 2026, a record year  

• 31% of Indiana’s fourth-grade students participated in 2026 

“Every year, we see more educators looking for engaging ways to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences,” said Dave Neff, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “The 2026 year shows there’s a growing appetite for programs that celebrate Indiana while inspiring curiosity and learning. We’re excited to bring this unique Hoosier tradition to even more classrooms in 2027.” 

Registration is open through May 21, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. Indiana educators can learn more at 500Festival.com/Education and register by clicking here. 

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The 500 Festival & Indianapolis 500 Education Program is presented by Riley Children’s Health and made possible through support from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 500 Festival Foundation, Regions Bank, NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Penske Truck Rental. 

About 500 Festival | Founded in 1957, the 500 Festival is a not-for-profit organization that produces more than 50 life-enriching events and programs while celebrating the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500® and fostering a positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. One of the largest festivals in the nation, each year more than half a million people attend an event or program produced by the 500 Festival. Since its founding, the 500 Festival has contributed more than $500 million in economic value to Indianapolis. To learn more about the 500 Festival, please visit 500festival.com or follow us on Facebook, and Instagram. 

About Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world’s largest spectator sporting facility, has been the worldwide leader in motorsports entertainment since opening in 1909. IMS will host the 111th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge – the world’s most prestigious auto race – on Sunday, May 30, 2027. That race is the climax of an exciting Month of May schedule for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES that also includes the Sonsio Grand Prix. NASCAR returns to the famous 2.5-mile oval during Brickyard Weekend, featuring the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG for the NASCAR Cup Series and Pennzoil 250 presented by Take 5 Oil Change for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship also returns to IMS for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks. IMS, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit ims.com. 

About Riley Children’s Health | Riley Children’s Health is Indiana’s only full service statewide pediatric health system. Riley Children’s offers complete, comprehensive pediatric care ranging from routine primary care checkups to the most complex acute care needs from highly skilled pediatric specialists. The system connects patients with expert primary care and specialty care physicians in communities across the state of Indiana. Riley physicians treat patients in their home communities, bringing top-notch care close to home. This statewide network is an extension of Riley Hospital for Children, one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals consistently ranked a Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. rileychildrens.org