INDIANAPOLIS (May 26, 2017) – The 500 Festival today announced that actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan will join the lineup for the 61^st   IPL 500 Festival Parade, scheduled for Saturday, May 27 in downtown Indianapolis. Joining Jeffrey Dean Morgan at the IPL 500 Festival Parade will be his wife, Hilarie Burton (One Tree Hill, White Collar, Grey's Anatomy), and his son, Gus Morgan. Tickets for the 2017 IPL 500 Festival Parade are available for purchase at www.500festival.com/tickets/.

Morgan plays "Negan" in the smash hit AMC series "The Walking Dead," which returns for its eighth season this fall. He received a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series and an MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Villain in 2017 for the role.

Morgan also endeared himself to audiences with his recurring role as "Denny Duquette" on ABC's smash hit series "Grey's Anatomy" and as "Jason Crouse" in the CBS series "The Good Wife." He also had a notable, recurring television role in the CW drama series "Supernatural."

He has guest-starred in many popular television series, including "ER," "JAG," "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Angel," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Sliders," "The O.C." and "Monk."

Since his motion-picture debut in "Uncaged" in 1991, Morgan has appeared in more than 25 feature films. He starred in "Watchmen," director Zack Snyder's adaptation of the iconic graphic novel. Other feature credits include "Desierto," "Batman v. Superman," "The Resident," "All Good Things," "The Losers," "Taking Woodstock," "Shanghai," "Texas Killing Fields" and "The Accidental Husband."

Yesterday, it was announced that Morgan would drive the The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport Pace Car to lead the starting field of the 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil to the green flag Sunday, May 28.

Along with the 33 drivers of the 101^st running of the Indianapolis 500, presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, the 500 Festival announced the following list of celebrities:

• Eva Kor
• Madison Kocian
• Nathan Kress
• Glenn Robinson III
• Ric Flair
• Karen Laine and Mina Starsiak, HGTV’s Good Bones
• Johnny Rutherford
• Lyn St. James
• Matt Painter
• Tom Allen
• General Robert B. Abrams
• Major General Courtney P. Carr
• Major General Andrew P. Poppas
• Governor Eric Holcomb
• Mayor Joe Hogsett

One of the original 500 Festival events, the IPL 500 Festival Parade is one of the nation’s largest, most respected parades, consistently earning national acclaim alongside the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. More than 300,000 people will line the streets of downtown Indianapolis to experience the larger-than-life floats, giant helium balloons, celebrities, all 33 drivers competing in the 101^st running of the Indy 500, specialty units, and award-winning bands from across the country.

In 2017, we turn the corner on last year’s celebration that highlighted many milestones, including the 40th OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, the 60th IPL 500 Festival Parade and the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. It was a great year, but no one is waving the checkered flag just yet. With many laps still to go, May 2017 is a chance to refuel and punch the gas. And with this year’s celebration covered in star-spangled spirit, it’s sure to be an inspiring salute to America on Memorial Day Weekend. The 500 Festival’s 2017 theme, Accelerating the American Spirit, gives Hoosiers the green light to ignite that red, white and blue passion.

The 2017 IPL 500 Festival Parade will take place on Saturday, May 27, with Parade festivities starting at 11:45 am. The IPL 500 Festival Parade will be nationally televised on NBC Sports Network and broadcast to the Indianapolis market on WTHR, Channel 13. Tickets for the IPL 500 Festival Parade start at $15 and can be purchased at www.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 or search #IPL500Parade on social media.

EDITOR’S NOTE: To download photos of celebrities participating in this year’s IPL 500 Festival Parade, please click the link embedded in their name.

About the 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 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, follow us on Twitter @500festival, or on Facebook.

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