500 Festival Training Series presented by OrthoIndy (Indiana
State Museum)
5K: February 9, 2008 - 8:30 a.m.
10K: March 1, 2008 - 8:00 a.m.
5K: April 12, 2008 - 8:00 a.m.
The 500 Festival Training Series allows participants to run on part
of the actual Mini-Marathon course and practice using water stations.
The Training Series, comprised of three events, is designed to allow
participants the opportunity to gauge their progression in preparation
for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on Saturday, May 3.
May 1st Kickoff (Monument Circle)
May 1, 2008 - 12:00 p.m.
Come celebrate the start of a month-long series of events and programs
with the 500 Festival Board of
Director’s, staff and the 2008 500 Festival Princesses. Enjoy
great music and food as we gear up for
another exciting May! Mini-Marathon
Expo & Packet Pick-Up (Convention Center)
May 1, 2008 - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
May 2, 2008 - 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
The Mini-Marathon Expo & Packet Pick-Up is the exciting start
to the Mini-Marathon weekend. All participants are required to pick-up
race packets and goodie bags at the Mini Expo. The Mini-Marathon Expo
& Packet Pick-Up features guest speakers, interactive activities
for all ages, including a race simulator and a great selection of
exhibitors looking for a large crowd of healthy lifestyle individuals.
Mini-Marinarathon
(Westin Hotel)
May 2, 2008 – 5:30 p.m.
The Mini-Marinarathon is the official pre-race party the night before
the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and Finish Line 500 Festival
5K. This is your chance before the big race to meet participants from
all over the world. And don’t forget about the great food! This
is one pasta celebration you won’t want to miss. Tickets are
$22 and can be purchased by calling (317) 614-MINI.
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (Downtown
Indianapolis)
May 3, 2008 - 7:30 a.m.
On May 2, 35,000 runners and walkers will take to the streets of downtown
Indianapolis for the 32nd running of the largest half-marathon in
the nation. The 13.1-mile course stretches from downtown Indianapolis
to the famed 2.5 mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and
ends downtown in Military Park. This year’s race sold out on
November 30, 2007 with entries from 50 states and 8 countries.
Finish Line 500 Festival 5K (Downtown Indianapolis)
May 3, 2008 - 8:15 a.m.
Entering its 9th year in 2008, the Finish Line 500 Festival 5K race
is designed for the whole family. The 5K uses the same start and finish
line as the Mini, and participants receive many of the same benefits
as the participants of the Mini-Marathon.
500
Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by ProLiance
Energy (Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
May 17, 2008 —7:00 a.m.
The 2008 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by ProLiance
Energy will feature open wheel racing champion, team owner and 1986
Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal as the guest speaker. Rahal will
speak on the topic of ethanol fuel and take part in a Q&A session
hosted by veteran motorsports commentator Bob Jenkins. Guests will
enjoy a hearty Hoosier breakfast, the opportunity to see the crowning
of the 2008 500 Festival Queen crowned, take a lap around the famed
oval in their own vehicle, tour the garages and experience the third
day of qualifying for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500.
Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day (Monument Circle)
May 18, 2008 - 12:00 p.m.
Join B105.7 at Kids’ Day, the state’s
largest free outdoor festival for children. Families can interact
with local mascots and clowns, race mini cars, bounce in giant inflatable’s
and create arts and crafts. Children can also visit with nationally
known characters or make sashes with the newly crowned 500 Festival
Queen and the 500 Festival Princesses. Dozens of exhibitors will fill
Monument Circle and surrounding streets with food, fun and educational
games. This year the Care Bears are the featured entertainment at
Kids’ Day with three performances on the IndyMoms.com stage.
Chase
500 Festival Rookie Run (Monument Circle)
May 18, 2008 - 1:00 p.m.
Children ages 3 to 12 are invited to join the Chase 500 Festival Rookie
Run, a non-competitive fun-run where everyone goes home a winner.
The purpose of the Rookie Run is to promote physical fitness and introduce
the 500 Festival to children at a young age. All children who participate
finish with medals, regardless of how long they run.
American Family Insurance 500 Festival Community Day
(Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
May 21, 2008 - 9:00 a.m.
Join B105.7 at the American Family Insurance 500
Festival Community Day has been held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
on the Wednesday prior to the Indianapolis 500 since 1997. This event
offers race fans free admission to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Hall of Fame Museum and numerous activities for people of all ages,
including a lap around the Speedway in their own vehicle, visits to
Pit Lane and tours of the suites and the official timing and scoring
area in the Pagoda. A certain fan-favorite Community Day activity
is the driver autograph session, where Indianapolis 500 drivers can
interact with fans.
500 Festival Memorial Service presented by Rolls-Royce
(Monument Circle)
May 23, 2008 - 11:00 a.m.
The 500 Festival Memorial Day, presented by Rolls-Royce honors Indiana’s
military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in America’s
wars. All the excitement that surrounds the annual running of the
Indianapolis 500 eagerly pauses for one solemn morning each May as
a grateful community gives honor to Hoosiers who died in defense of
our country so that others might remain free. The Memorial Service
is held downtown on the north steps of the Soldier’s and Sailors’
Monument on Friday morning of race weekend.
IPL
500 Festival Parade (Downtown Indianapolis)
May 24, 2008 - 12:00 p.m.
Keep a look out for B105.7 at one of the original
events produced by the 500 Festival, the IPL 500 Festival Parade,
has grown to be one of the signature events held in the United States
each year. The 500 Festival Parade is the only event which has taken
place every year, beginning in 1957. Nearly 300,000 people line the
streets of downtown Indianapolis on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend
to enjoy this spectacular event. Approximately 3,000 volunteers helped
coordinate the 2007 IPL 500 Festival Parade. The Parade features all
33 drivers in the Indianapolis 500, 33 500 Festival Princesses, spectacular
floats, bands from across America, giant balloons and specialty units.
The Parade is nationally telecast on ESPN2 and is locally televised
on WISH-TV Channel 8, a CBS affiliate. Throughout the years, the financial
support from the title sponsor and float and balloon sponsors has
helped to further the development of creative ideas to enhance the
Parade on the street as well as its telecast. Each year the Parade
reflects the Festival theme through its floats and special décor
on the Parade route. • Emmy award-winning actress Patricia
Heaton will serve as grand marshal of the 2008 IPL 500 Festival Parade!
Regions
500 Festival Snakepit Ball, presented by Cindy & Paul
Skjodt (Indiana Roof Ballroom)
May 24, 2008 - 6:00 p.m.
Taking place in the Indiana Roof Ballroom, the Snakepit Ball has become
a race-eve tradition. Known as the place to see the stars, the black-tie
preferred party includes red carpet arrivals by celebrities in town
for race weekend and special VIP guests. Dinner and dancing will round
out the celebration. This year attendees will be dancing and swaying
to the music of R&B super group the O’Jays. The O’Jays,
are living legends after making international hits for more than 40
years.
500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 Education Program
A record number of fourth-grade students from around Indiana will
take part in the 2008 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500® Education
Program. Last year nearly 24,000 fourth graders participated in the
program. This year 25,500 fourth graders from around Indiana are participating;
a record for the program.
The 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500® Education Program strives
to educate and foster creativity in Hoosier fourth-grade students
by using the historical, social and economic significances of the
500 Festival, Indianapolis 500 and the thriving motorsports industry
of Indiana in the curriculum. The program provides a complimentary
Indiana Academic Standard-compliant curriculum to fourth-grade teachers
from schools and communities across Indiana in subjects including
Indiana history, social studies, health, language arts, science, physical
education and math.
The classroom lessons are followed by an optional Study Trip (field
trip) to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in April or May. Students
apply lessons learned in the classroom with on-site programming and
experiences designed to further educate them on the significance of
the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500’s heritage and place in
Indiana history. The program is offered to students in the fourth
grade as this is the year.
500
Festival Princess Program
This year Thirty-three young women from across Indiana will serve
in the 2008 500 Festival Princess Program. As ambassadors of the 500
Festival, the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 and their hometowns,
the princesses will attend 500 Festival events and volunteer programs
throughout the month of May. In addition, the 33 princesses will be
involved with statewide outreach programs of their choosing. Princesses
are also present at various Indianapolis Motor Speedway functions
and participate in the Indianapolis 500 Victory Circle celebration.
This year’s 500 Festival princesses represent 12 Indiana colleges
and universities and 20 cities and towns across the state. The young
women were selected from 263 applicants based on communication skills,
poise, academic performance and community and volunteer involvement.
Mini-Marathon
Expo & Packet Pick-Up (Convention Center)
Mini-Marinarathon
(Westin Hotel)
500
Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by ProLiance
Energy (Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
Join B105.7 at Kids’ Day, the state’s
largest free outdoor festival for children. Families can interact
with local mascots and clowns, race mini cars, bounce in giant inflatable’s
and create arts and crafts. Children can also visit with nationally
known characters or make sashes with the newly crowned 500 Festival
Queen and the 500 Festival Princesses. Dozens of exhibitors will fill
Monument Circle and surrounding streets with food, fun and educational
games. This year the Care Bears are the featured entertainment at
Kids’ Day with three performances on the IndyMoms.com stage.
Chase
500 Festival Rookie Run (Monument Circle)
IPL
500 Festival Parade (Downtown Indianapolis)
Regions
500 Festival Snakepit Ball, presented by Cindy & Paul
Skjodt (Indiana Roof Ballroom)
500
Festival Princess Program
