Applications open on 16 October for the 2027 Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade. According to the Kentucky Derby Festival’s official release, entries close on 12 January 2027 and selected units will be notified in February.
Nearly 100 units and a required theme
The parade takes place at 3 p.m. on 25 April 2027 along Broadway in Louisville. Springtime in the Bluegrass celebrates Kentucky’s landscapes, traditions and new beginnings. Each unit must incorporate the theme in at least two ways, choosing from colour, costume, visuals or props, performance elements, or sound and music.
The parade features nearly 100 units each year, including performers, community groups, equestrian teams, marching bands and large inflatables. Submitting an application does not guarantee participation.
A seven-year title partnership
Louisville-based Zoeller Pump Company returns as title sponsor for the seventh consecutive year. Churchill Downs and Kentucky Venues are contributing sponsors, The Galt House is the official hotel and WAVE is media partner.
The 2027 edition marks the parade’s 72nd year. Launched in 1956 by volunteers on a $640 budget, it has grown into one of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s largest events.
Business lesson
The value of a multiyear title partnership is consistency: the brand becomes part of an annual community ritual rather than a one-off campaign. Open applications also produce community content and diverse visual activation points.
Summary
The 72nd Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade takes place at 3 p.m. on 25 April 2027 along Broadway in Louisville. Applications run from 16 October 2026 to 12 January 2027 under the Springtime in the Bluegrass theme.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the 2027 Pegasus Parade?
- At 3 p.m. on 25 April 2027 in Louisville.
- When is the application deadline?
- 12 January 2027; applications open 16 October 2026.
- Who is the title sponsor?
- Zoeller Pump Company for the seventh consecutive year.
