Kentucky Derby Festival touring parade will visit 30+ neighborhoods. Here's the route

Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal
·6 min read
The Zoeller Pump Touring Pegasus Parade.
The Zoeller Pump Touring Pegasus Parade.

One of the biggest, and newest, Kentucky Derby Festival events is almost here.

New in 2021, the Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade returns on Saturday, April 2 and it will travel around the community.

With around a dozen units, the traveling display will cover several miles and drive through more than 30 neighborhoods around Louisville and Jefferson County.

“We want the entire community to feel a part of the Derby Festival celebration,” Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO said in a news release. “Traveling around the city helps us reach fans in a whole new way. We hope to see everyone lining their sidewalks again this year as we kick off our month-long celebration.”

The parade will travel around the community from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (rain or shine). These are some of the areas and neighborhoods where the touring parade will travel:

Spectators take in the Zoeller Pump Touring Pegasus Parade.
Spectators take in the Zoeller Pump Touring Pegasus Parade.

  • 9 a.m.: Leaves Kentucky Exposition Center (en route to Zoeller Pump Company)

  • 9-10 a.m.: Taylor-Berry, North Shively

  • 10 a.m.: Ribbon Cutting at Zoeller Pump Company (Official Start of Touring Parade)

  • 10 a.m. to Noon: Hallmark, Park DuValle, Parkland, Chickasaw, Shawnee, Russell

  • 12-2 p.m.: Parkland, California, Limerick, Old Louisville, Smoketown/Shelby Park, Germantown, Highlands, Tyler Park, Deer Park, Belknap, Hayfield Dundee

  • 2- 4 p.m.: Bashford Manor, Newburg, Highview, Okolona, Auburndale

  • 4- 6 p.m.: Kenwood Hills, Iroquois Park, Cloverleaf, Hazelwood, Beechmont, Highland Park

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The timing of when the parade arrives at each area will be pending traffic and logistics as it moves through the community. It will be traveling at about 15 mph to give residents a chance to see it. A complete list of the streets and areas along the touring parade route is posted online at KDF.org/parade.

The touring parade will feature:

  • Four inflatable balloon characters: Zoeller Pump Company (Goldie Pegasus), Buddy the Dinosaur, Brainy Smurf, and Daniel Tiger

  • Festival VIPs: 2022 Derby Festival Board Chair, Mike Shea and the 2022 Royal Court riding the Derby City Express

  • Specialty Units: Kosair Shriner’s Calliope, TARC Design-A-Bus showcasing local student artwork, on route music provided by Zoeller Pump Company

  • Along the route: KDF Spirit Squad will be onsite at the 10 a.m. start, as well as a few stops along the route

Fans along the route are encouraged to decorate their homes and neighborhoods. The Kentucky Derby Festival invites residents to line the sidewalks as the parade travels through the community. Fans can share photos of the Zoeller Pump Company Traveling Parade on social media using the hashtags #KyDerbyFestival and #LouisvilleLove as part of this year’s festivities.

The Zoeller Pump Company Touring Pegasus Parade begins.
The Zoeller Pump Company Touring Pegasus Parade begins.

“For more than 83 years the Zoeller Company has called Louisville home," said Dwight C. Newton, Zoeller Pump Company Chief People Officer. "We love this city and all of our Team members, customers, suppliers and shareholders ... this partnership is just one way we can give a little back.”

Here's what else to know about the 2022 Kentucky Derby Festival's Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade:

When is the Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade?

The touring parade will be held Saturday, April 2 (rain or shine).

Where is the Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade?

The Zoeller Pump Touring Pegasus Parade.
The Zoeller Pump Touring Pegasus Parade.

The parade will travel through more than 30 neighborhoods around Louisville and Jefferson County, including the Hallmark, Park DuValle, Parkland, Chickasaw, Shawnee, Russell, Parkland, California, Limerick, Old Louisville, Smoketown/Shelby Park, Germantown, Highlands, Tyler Park, Deer Park, Belknap, Hayfield Dundee, Bashford Manor, Newburg, Highview, Okolona, Auburndale, Kenwood Hills, Iroquois Park, Cloverleaf, Hazelwood, Beechmont and Highland Park neighborhoods.

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What will I see during the Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade?

Fans will see four inflatable balloon characters, including Zoeller Pump Company (Goldie Pegasus), Buddy the Dinosaur, Brainy Smurf, and Daniel Tiger, various Festival VIPS, including the 2022 Royal Court riding the Derby City Express, specialty units including the Kosair Shriner’s Calliope and more.

How much does it cost to attend the Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade?

The Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses waved from a bus during the Pegasus Parade 2021 as they traveled near Atherton High School in Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 11, 2021. They rode the bus instead of a traditional style parade wagon because of issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
The Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses waved from a bus during the Pegasus Parade 2021 as they traveled near Atherton High School in Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 11, 2021. They rode the bus instead of a traditional style parade wagon because of issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

It's free to attend!

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What is the 2022 Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade Route?

The timing of when the parade arrives at each area will be pending traffic and logistics as it moves through the community. It will be traveling at about 15 mph to give residents a chance to see it.

9 a.m.

Depart Kentucky Exposition Center en route to Zoeller Pump Company

  • Exit Gate 4 onto Central Avenue

  • Turn left at Seventh Street

  • Turn right onto Wathen Lane

  • Turn left onto Dixie Hwy

  • Turn right onto Millers Lane

  • Turn right on Cane Run Road

  • Turn right into the Zoeller Pump Campus

10 a.m.

Ribbon Cutting/Official Start at Zoeller Pump Company Leg #1

The Zoeller Pump Touring Pegasus Parade.
The Zoeller Pump Touring Pegasus Parade.

  • Turn right onto Cane Run Road

  • Turn left onto Algonquin Parkway

  • Turn right onto Russell Lee Drive

  • Turn right onto Stratton Avenue

  • Turn left onto S. 34 Street (Louis Coleman Jr Drove)

  • Turn right onto Dumesnil Street

  • Turn left onto S. 32nd Street

  • Turn left onto Virginia Avenue which turns into Hale Avenue

  • Turn right onto Southwestern Parkway

  • Turn right onto Broadway

  • Turn left onto S 41st Street

  • Turn right onto W. Market Street

  • Turn right onto S 30th Street

Noon

Leg #2

  • Turn right to exit the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center parking lot

  • Turn left onto River Park Drive

  • Turn right onto Dr. W. J. Hodge Street

  • Turn left onto W Kentucky Street

  • Turn left onto Dixie Highway

  • Turn right onto W Kentucky Street

  • Turn right onto Barret Avenue

  • Turn left onto Castlewood Avenue

  • Turn right onto Baxter Avenue

  • Turn left onto Eastern Parkway

  • Turn right onto Norris Place turns left into Douglas Boulevard

  • Turn right onto Boulevard Napoleon

  • Turn left onto Yale Drive

  • Turn right onto Dundee Road

  • Turn right at Atherton HS to stay on Dundee Road

  • Turn left onto Newburg Road

  • Turn left onto Goldsmith Lane

  • Turn into the second driveway for Watterson Tower

2 p.m.

Leg #3

  • Exit Watterson Tower parking lot and turn left onto Goldsmith Lane

  • Turn right onto Peabody Lane

  • Turn right onto Kerry Drive

  • Turn left onto Mayo Drive, which changes into Mall Road

  • Turn right onto Champion Trace Lane

  • Turn left onto Newburg Road

  • Turn right onto Abernathy Road

  • Turn left onto Petersburg Road

  • Turn right onto Unseld Boulevard

  • Turn right onto Cedrus Circle

  • Turn left onto Brenda Lane

  • Turn left onto Rangeland Road

  • Turn right onto Shepherdsville Road

  • Turn right on Famous Way

  • Turn right on Smithton Road

  • Turn left on St Rita Road

  • Turn right on Linda Road

  • Turn left on Trio Avenue

  • Turn left onto Preston View Lane

  • Turn right onto Foreman Lane

  • Turn right onto Briarcliff Road

  • Turn left onto Outer Loop

  • Turn right onto New Cut Road

  • Turn right into Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church

4 p.m.

Leg #4

  • Exit the Church parking lot by turning left onto Southside that changes into 3rd Street

  • Turn right onto Bruce Avenue

  • Turn right to stay on Bruce Avenue

  • Turn left onto Palatka Road

  • Turn right onto Sanders Gate Road (Entering Iroquois Park)

  • Turn right at the stables to stay on Sanders Gate Road

  • Turn left onto Rundill Road

  • Turn left onto Melody Lane

  • Turn right onto Norway Drive

  • Turn left onto Tunisian Way

  • 66- Turn right onto Manslick Road

  • Turn left onto Glenrock Road

  • Turn right onto Hedges Road

  • Turn left onto Knight Road

  • Turn right onto Estate Drive

  • Turn right onto Rhonda Way

  • Turn right onto Naneen Drive

  • Turn right onto Anna Lane

  • Turn left onto Rondean Drive

  • Turn left onto Hobart Drive that changes into Bluegrass Avene

  • Turn right onto Peachtree Avenue

  • Turn left back onto Bluegrass Avenue

  • Turn left on Southern Parkway that changes into 3rd Street

  • Turn right onto Central Avenue

  • Enter Kentuck Exposition Center Gate 4 for dispersal

Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade will wrap up around 6 p.m.

Reach Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com or Twitter @kirbylouisville.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby Festival 2022 Parade: What's the route, date?