INDIANAPOLIS (May 22, 2019) – The 500 Festival, a nonprofit organization providing life-enriching events and programs that celebrate the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500®, today announces the float award winners for the 2019 IPL 500 Festival Parade. The 2019 parade lineup will have a record number of floats, with 14 floats making their way down the parade route for spectators. Floats were judged on a number of different criteria and were evaluated by a panel of judges. The floats are honored for recognition and tradition as no monetary prizes are awarded. However, the annual competition brings prestige to the IPL 500 Festival Parade community partners and float designers.

The 2019 IPL 500 Festival Parade float honors go to the following:

SWEEPSTAKES TROPHY: Best Overall Entry

Float: Honoring the Tradition of Serving the Community

Sponsor: IPL – Indianapolis Power & Light Co.

THEME AWARD: Best Development of 500 Festival Theme “Your Tradition is Waiting in our own Brickyard”

Float: 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge

Sponsor: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD: Most Entertaining

Float: The Winning Tradition of Milk

Sponsor: American Dairy Association Indiana

500 FESTIVAL QUEEN SCHOLAR AWARD: Outstanding Presentation of Hoosier Spirit and Pride

Float: Anthem Angels

Sponsor: Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield

GRAND MARSHAL AWARD: Most Creative Concept and Execution

Float: Turning the Corner into the Next Century

Sponsor: The American Legion

PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Most Original Concept

Float: Explore Indiana Wines

Sponsor: Indiana Wines

MARI HULMAN GEORGE AWARD: Best Display of Philanthropy, Arts or Education

Float: Hot Wheels: Race to Win!

Sponsor: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

CHECKERED FLAG AWARD FOR HISTORICAL RECOGNITION

Float: Living Out Lilly’s Heritage

Sponsor: Eli Lilly & Company

CHECKERED FLAG AWARD FOR POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT

Float: Fueling Adventures of Hope, Happiness & Healing

Sponsor: A Kid Again

ROOKIE AWARD: Best First-Time Float Participant

Float: Be a Superhero!

Sponsor: CSL Plasma

CHECKERED FLAG AWARD FOR MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF COLOR

Float: #NowYouCan

Sponsor: Heineken 0.0

CHECKERED FLAG AWARD FOR HONORING THE SPIRIT AND LEGACY OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500

Float: Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske IndyCar

Sponsor: Shell V-Power NiTRO+

One of the original events produced by the 500 Festival, the IPL 500 Festival Parade is one of the nation’s premier parades, alongside the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The 2019 IPL 500 Festival Parade will be held on Saturday, May 25, the day before the Indianapolis 500, and will be themed Your Tradition Is Waiting In Our Own Brickyard. Spectators will experience the spectacle of the Indy 500 as massive floats and enormous helium balloons light up the skyline of downtown Indianapolis as celebrities, marching bands, patriotic units and specialty units fill the streets to celebrate the world’s largest single-day sporting event. The tradition continues with the 33 starting drivers of the Indianapolis 500 riding in traditional rows of three, led by 2019 Grand Marshal is NTT Indy Car team owner and philanthropist, Sam Schmidt.

The 2019 IPL 500 Festival Parade will take place on Saturday, May 25 in downtown Indianapolis. Parade festivities will start at 11:45 am ET. IPL 500 Festival Parade tickets are now for sale and can be purchased at 500festival.com/tickets, by calling (317) 614-6400, or at the 500 Festival Ticket Office, located at 21 Virginia Ave. in Downtown Indianapolis. The Ticket Office is open on weekdays from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

For more information about the IPL 500 Festival Parade, please visit 500festival.com/parade or search #IPL500Parade on social media.

About the 500 Festival

Founded in 1957, the 500 Festival is a not-for-profit organization that produces life-enriching events and programs that celebrate the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500® and foster 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 $400 million in economic value to Indianapolis. To learn more about the 500 Festival, please visit www.500festival.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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