Applications to Perform at the 2018 Indy Mini Now Open

INDIANAPOLIS (November 15, 2017) – 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 opening of the application process for Course Entertainment at the 2018 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Groups will perform for a crowd of 40,000+ participants, volunteers and spectators along the 13.1-mile course on May 5, 2018.

The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is one of the nation’s largest half marathons. Known as The Greatest Spectacle in Running, the Indy Mini features nearly 100 entertainment groups and spirit squads lining the course. Musicians, dance groups, bands, and family-friendly entertainers of all genres are encouraged to apply. Selected entertainment acts will receive a wide variety of benefits, including exposure for your group and the opportunity to inspire thousands of participants.

“We had a wonderful time pumping up the participants as they approached and entered the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! We saw a lot of them singing and dancing with us and we prompted them to do a group yell running through the tunnel on many occasions! It was an amazing time, and even the volunteers around us seemed to be enjoying the music, as they also clapped and danced. The business that hosted our electricity - Speedway Monogramming - was so friendly and hospitable!” - The Scenic Fire Band, 2017 Course Entertainment Act

The quantity and quality of entertainment lining the route have led to the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon often called the largest four-hour music festival, anywhere. From rock bands to cloggers to Indy’s best DJs, Indy Mini participants cite course entertainment as one of the top reasons they return to the race year after year

“Bands and entertainment along the course really made a difference for me throughout the race!" - Alice R., OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon participant

Benefits for 2018 Course Entertainers include:

• Exposure for your group
• Group name and booking information listed on indymini.com
• Recognition in a 500 Festival “Thank You” ad
• Group signage may be displayed at your performance location
• Group recognition listed in the 2018 Participant Guide
• Commemorative t-shirt
• Certificate of participation
• Tickets to an Indianapolis 500 Practice Day
• Social Media Contest – The winning group will be featured in a Facebook post on both the Mini-Marathon and 500 Festival page, as well as a blog post on IndyMini.com
• Award for top entertainment group

Applications for the 2018 Course Entertainment must be submitted by March 15, 2018. Performance locations will be distributed to groups in early April. Groups must be at their assigned location by 6:30 a.m. on race morning (May 5). All groups will finish performing by noon. To learn more about or apply for the course entertainment experience for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, please click here.

The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is sponsored by OneAmerica, Franciscan Health and Meijer. The Mini-Marathon will be broadcast to the Indianapolis market on WTHR, Channel 13.

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 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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