Indianapolis (May 18, 2015) – Less than one week after a fire at ExpoDeisgn caused significant damage to the IPL 500 Festival Parade float sponsored by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the 500 Festival today announced that there will be a new, redesigned float from The Children’s Museum in this year’s parade.

Within hours of the May 12 fire, the 500 Festival, The Children’s Museum, and ExpoDesign began collaborating to determine next steps and within 72 hours, a concept had been approved and creation of the float was in progress. The Children’s Museum’s new float for the IPL 500 Festival Parade will draw its inspiration from their new Hot Wheels: Race to Win Exhibit, featuring an IndyCar racing down the Hot Wheels orange track. The float will be similar in size and scope as the others participating in this year’s Parade.

“Conceptualizing and building a new float, one week from the IPL 500 Festival Parade, is a massive undertaking. We appreciate the hard work and teamwork from our partners at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and ExpoDesign,” said Bob Bryant, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “We’re confident that the community will love the new float from The Children’s Museum.”

“Our three organizations came together quickly to create a strategy for a new float and in just a few days we have a great plan and design in place for the parade,” said Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “The Children’s Museum hopes to inspire young people to find joy in science, technology, engineering, and math through this float and our newest exhibit, Hot Wheels™: Race to Win!™.”

“At the end of the day, we’re thankful that no one on our team was seriously injured in last week’s fire,” said Matthew LaFary, general manager of ExpoDesign. “When given the opportunity to rebuild the float for The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, everyone on our team was steadfast in our ability to rally together and create something that Parade attendees will love. We’re excited to showcase our creativity and teamwork to the people of Indianapolis.” 

One of the inaugural 500 Festival events, the IPL 500 Festival Parade is one of the nation’s premier parades. More than 300,000 spectators will line the two-mile parade route to experience the larger-than-life floats, giant helium balloons, celebrities, marching bands, patriotic units and specialty units that will fill the streets of downtown Indianapolis. The tradition continues with the 33 starting drivers of the Indianapolis 500 serving as honorary grand marshals. The IPL 500 Festival Parade consistently earns national acclaim, ranking as one of the top parades, alongside the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The 2015 IPL 500 Festival Parade will take place on Saturday, May 23, stepping off at Noon ET, and will be nationally televised on NBC Sports Network and locally on WTHR. Tickets for the IPL 500 Festival Parade start at $15 and can be purchased at 500festival.com/paradetickets, or at the 500 Festival’s Ticket Office, located at 21 Virginia Ave. in Downtown Indianapolis.

For more information about the IPL 500 Festival Parade, please visit www.500festival.com/parade.

EDITOR’S NOTE: To download an updated rendering of The Children’s Museum’s Float, CLICK HERE.

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500 Festival Media Contact:
Sabrina List, VP of marketing & communication
slist@500festival.com
Office: 317.614.6141