Pegasus Parade brings thousands to downtown Louisville for annual tradition

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- While people from around the world will visit Churchill Downs for the 150th Kentucky Derby, a Louisville tradition brought the community together on Sunday.

The Kentucky Derby Festival held its Pegasus Parade in downtown Louisville as thousands of people attended the spring event. It's the third straight year the parade has been held on a Sunday.

IMAGES | Pegasus Parade marches down Broadway in downtown Louisville

"The city comes together," Franchella Farris said. "Everybody in this this community gets to experience this great parade."

The parade started at Broadway and Campbell Street and marched west to 9th Street. The first Pegasus Parade was in 1956 on a budget of only $640. It is the oldest festival event.

Inez Mitchell, 95, has been going to the Pegasus Parade her whole life. The mother of 10 went with her grand children and great grand children on Sunday.

"This kids love it," Inez said. "All my life I have lived in Louisville, I love Louisville."

Kasie Mitchell, Inez's grand daughter, said attending the parade is an annual tradition for the family.

Inez Mitchell watches the Pegasus Parade.JPG — Inez Mitchell and her family watch the Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade in Louisville, Ky. on April 28, 2024.
Sam Draut

"It's a beautiful feeling," Kasie said as her grandmother and son watched the parade, four generations connected by the Derby event.

This year, Churchill Downs sponsored all general admission bleacher seating for the event. More than 3,000 seats along the route that lined Broadway were free.

The bleacher seats were available on a first-come, first-served basis as the parade's theme was "Celebrating Derby 150" for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Farris's daughter, Zephaniah Gray was featured in the parade as a member of Simmons College of Kentucky's women's basketball national championship team. Farris said this time of year in Louisville is special.

"This is like my national holiday," Farris said. "It gets better and better every year."

Along with Simmons College of Kentucky's women's basketball team, KHSAA state championship winning Sacred Heart Academy girls basketball team was also in the parade.

Mayor Craig Greenberg, Miss Kentucky Mallory Hudson, jockeys Pat Day, Brian Hernandez and Julien Leparoux, Louisville Orchestra music director Teddy Abrams and others attended the parade.

Shane Crowe hands out water bottles.JPG — Shane Crowe hands out bottles of water of the Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade in Louisville, Ky. on April 28, 2024.
Sam Draut

Shane Crowe, a junior at Louisville Male High School, handed out water bottles to parade goers and participants. The volunteer greeted people as they passed by with a particular focus.

"Help spread positivity in the community, PVO stands for positive vibes only," Crowe said.

For some people, the Pegasus Parade is part of their Kentucky Derby routine.

"This is definitely part of our Derby plans," Kurtis Guthrie said. "It's absolutely awesome, I love that they put it on every year. It's a fun family event."

Among highlights from the parade's past include grand marshals John Wayne, Michael Landon, Lorne Greene and William Shatner. Entertainers from Carol Channing and Liberace to Gladys Knight and Loretta Lynn have also taken part. And Kentucky legends like Muhammad Ali and Colonel Harland Sanders have been favorites. General Norman Schwarzkopf also rode in the parade in his first public appearance in the U.S. at the conclusion of the Gulf War.

To learn more about the parade, click here.

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