Republic Bank Pegasus Parade

The 2016 Pegasus Parade marched down Broadway on Thursday, May 5. This family-friendly annual event showcases some of the nation’s finest marching bands and equestrian units, along with inflatable characters and colorful floats. The theme for the 2016 Pegasus Parade was “Fun For The Arts.”

Led by the “Peggy Bank” inflatable Pegasus balloon, the parade marched west on Broadway for 17 blocks and lasted approximately two hours. Thanks to the sponsorship of Republic Bank, more than 90% of the parade route offered free public viewing.

Over the years, the Pegasus Parade has featured a wide variety of celebrities, including Grand Marshals such as Muhammad Ali, John Wayne, Loretta Lynn, William Shatner, Bill Monroe, Diane Sawyer, Colonel Harland Sanders, Rick Pitino, John Calipari, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and the 2013 University of Louisville Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams.

Originating in 1956 on a budget of only $640, the Republic Bank Pegasus Parade is the Kentucky Derby Festival’s oldest event. Today, the Pegasus Parade is one of the largest in the country, contributing an estimated impact of more than $22 million to the local economy.