Loren Allred and Indianapolis native Ephraim Owens are set to crank up the volume on race weekend, headlining the opening production of the 70th Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Allred will handle the national anthem, while Owens, fresh off NBC’s The Voice, will fire up the crowd with a cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The downtown parade is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m., and reserved seating tickets start at $25.
Opening Production Sets The Tone
The 500 Festival says the opening production is designed as a one-two punch, pairing Allred’s powerhouse vocals with Owens’ high-energy set. The show will also feature a patriotic performance by the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, plus appearances from the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders and the Indiana Pacemates. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, with festivities beginning at 11:45 a.m., and organizers say the event will be televised locally on WTHR Channel 13, according to 500 Festival. Proceeds from ticketed events help support 500 Festival’s free programming for Indiana youth and college students.
Ephraim Owens: From Indy To The National Stage
Owens rose to national attention as a standout on Season 24 of NBC’s The Voice, where judges and audiences praised his soulful tone and versatility. NBC's contestant page lists his hometown as Indianapolis and highlights his time on the show, a credential organizers leaned on when booking him for parade day. For more on Owens' TV run, see NBC.
Parade Lineup And Grand Marshals
The Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade will send a wide lineup of marching bands, floats and celebrity appearances through downtown the day before the Indy 500. The Indianapolis Star reports that this year’s grand marshals are Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard, adding a basketball-fueled splash from the sports world to the celebration. The Star's piece also rounds up ticketing details and veteran coverage of the parade’s route and schedule; organizers encourage fans to plan for crowds and downtown road closures on race weekend, according to The Indianapolis Star.
How To Get Tickets And What To Know
Reserved seating and commemorative digital tickets are on sale now, with prices starting at $25. The 500 Festival asks buyers to purchase only from its official site to avoid scams. The festival’s ticket page lays out how the digital ticketing works, shipping options for printed commemorative tickets and a phone number for assistance at 317-614-6400, according to 500 Festival. If you want a close view downtown, organizers and past attendees recommend arriving early and leaving plenty of time for parking or transit.
Plan Ahead
The parade has been a cornerstone of Month of May festivities in Indianapolis for decades, and this year’s opening production is built to give locals and visitors a showy, family-friendly start to race weekend. Whether you buy a seat or stake out a spot on the curb, the mix of pop-power vocals, marching bands and downtown atmosphere typically turns this into one of the city’s liveliest spring weekends.
