Fever to Serve as Grand Marshal of 500 Fest Parade
The 500 Festival announced yesterday that the Indiana Fever, winner of the 2012 WNBA Finals in October, will serve as Grand Marshal of the IPL 500 Festival Parade at noon on Saturday, May 25. Coverage of the annual downtown event will air nationally on NBC Sports Network.
The honor comes during a busy month for the team, many of whose players are returning from overseas stints with other clubs for the start of the 2013 WNBA season in San Antonio on May 24. The Bankers Life Fieldhouse home opener is on May 31.
The Fever succeeds 2012 honoree Olivia Newton-John as Grand Marshal, and it marks the second time in four years that a local sports team has earned top billing at the parade; the Butler men’s basketball team served as Grand Marshal in 2010 after reaching the final game of the NCAA tournament. Past luminaries to receive the distinction include Jimmy Stewart, Walter Kronkite, Bob Hope, and Mickey Mouse.
The 500 Festival also announced that country singer and X Factor winner Tate Stevens will kick off the parade by performing his single “Holler If You’re with Me.”
