Noblesville High School Marching Band to perform in Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade

The 500 Festival has selected 13 marching bands from across the U.S. to perform in the 70th annual Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade, on Saturday, May 23, in downtown Indianapolis.

On the day before the Indianapolis 500, the IPS All-City marching band will march the streets of downtown Indianapolis for one of the nation’s largest parades, the Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade. The selected marching bands will perform for more than 200,000 spectators lining the 2-mile parade route. An additional 1 million TV viewers from around the country will tune in to the Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade’s Indianapolis market broadcast on WTHR, Channel 13.

Band line up for the 2026 Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade:

• Noblesville High School Marching Millers, Noblesville – Director, Eric Thornbury
• National Band Association Indiana All-Star Band, Zionsville – Director, Mickey Stisher
• Marching Patriots, Portland – Director, Charles Roesch
• Marching Highlanders, Anderson – Director, Richard Geisler
• Greenwood Marching Woodmen, Greenwood – Director, Luke Aylsworth
• Clark County High School Marching Band, Kahoka, Mo. – Director, Robert Dooley
• Berlin Bears Marching Band, Delaware, Ohio – Director, Michael Reeves
• 38th Infantry Division Band, Indianapolis – Director, Catherine Maloney
• Indianapolis Public Schools All-City Marching Band, Indianapolis – Director, Josh Goodman
• Speedway High School 500 Regiment Band, Speedway – Director, Delaney Ruble
• Northwestern High School Tiger Pride Band, Kokomo – Director, Jeremy Snyder
• Purdue University “All-American” Marching Band, West Lafayette – Director, Matt Conaway
• Squadron of Sound, Monroe – Director, Cory Kelley

“As we celebrate 70 years of parade tradition and this year’s ‘Racing Through History’ theme, these bands play an important role in bringing that story to life,” said Dave Neff, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “Their talent, passion, and pride create an unforgettable experience for fans and help carry forward the spirit of this iconic celebration.”

One of the 500 Festival’s original events, the Lucas Oil 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 200,000 people will line the streets of downtown Indianapolis to experience the magic, fanfare, and excitement of the Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade. An iconic race-weekend tradition, the Parade will feature spectacular floats, larger-than-life helium balloons, marching bands from across the country, celebrities and everyday heroes, and the 33 drivers that will be competing in the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500, presented by Gainbridge.

The 2026 Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade will take place on Saturday, May 23, with festivities starting at 11:45 a.m. in downtown Indianapolis, and the Parade starting at noon.

Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade tickets can be purchased at 500festival.com/tickets.

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

Support of the Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade is provided by: Lucas Oil, AES Indiana, American Dairy Association of Indiana, Central Indiana Chevy Dealers, Eli Lilly, Franciscan Health, Indianapolis Colts, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IU Simon End Lunch Cancer Now, KSM CPAs & Advisors, Meijer, OneAmerica Financial, Purdue University, Regions Bank, Republic Airways, Shell Starship, Sullivan Hardware & Garden, and WTHR-13.