From Campbell to 9th Street, marching bands, floats, inflatable characters, and well respected people will be on display for all of Louisville to see. Notable, Cyndi Lauper will kick things off with her timeless song, “True Colors” as the Grand Marshal. The one thing that just may make this the parade to remember is the attendance of the 2012 NCAA Championship University of Kentucky Wildcats Men’s Basketball Coach, John Calipari and his coaching staff, will serve as the Honorary Grand Marshals.
The parade is set to feature upwards of 9 floats from sponsors in the Louisville community such as Norton Healthcare, the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, The Fillies, Kosair Charities, CenterStage at the Jewish Community Center, City of St. Matthews, Second Chance @ Life, Hwang’s Martial Arts, and the Kentuckiana Pride Festival. Fear nor, the marching bands, which in this writer’s opinion make a parade, will be numerous and feature bands from around the region. Horse enthusiasts will be pleased with the 17 equestrian units featured on Broadway.
The inflatables to be seen floating through the skies over Broadway rival that of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Eleven characters, blimps, and symbols will float through the six lane-wide Broadway for all the kiddos to see as cheers are sure to be heard. Chick-Fil-A, Horseshoe, LG&E, and Kentucky Spirit Health Plan are a few of the sponsors sending floating floats down the Broadway corridor. Peggy, the inflatable Pegasus sponsored by Republic Bank, will be the first inflatable to grace the sky.
Reserved seating for the parade is sold out, yet plenty of viewing areas are available along the parade route. Lawn chairs, snacks and goodies, and plenty of water are suggested to make the parade fun for the family. Be weary of street closures while attempting to park, as it will be difficult to cross Broadway once the parade begins.
The parade route will begin at Campbell Street and follow Broadway until it reaches the conclusion at 9th Street. Kick-off for the parade is set for 5pm.
