Centerville Senior High School’s Blue Regiment is one of 14 marching bands chosen from around the nation to join this year’s Indianapolis 500 festivities.
In addition, several local students will perform as part of the National Band Association Indiana All-Star Band, proudly wearing their school’s uniform.
Leaders of the 500 Festival selected the bands for the 69th annual AES 500 Festival Parade, on Saturday, May 24, in downtown Indianapolis. Festivities start at 11:45 a.m. before the noon parade.
On the day before the 500-mile auto race, bands will march the streets for one of the nation’s largest parades that includes helium balloons and the 33 drivers.
They will perform for more than 200,000 spectators lining the 2-mile parade route.
Centerville’s director, Jonathan Lucy, said he and band members are “super excited” about their upcoming appearance that will be seen around the United States.
1 million TV viewers from around the country are expected to watch on WTHR Channel 13 and a national broadcast on Peacock.
“Beyond the opportunity to represent Centerville Senior High School on the state and national level, the Centerville Blue Regiment will be an even stronger competitive band this year,” Lucy said. “The students have focused on marching technique a lot this semester. We are thankful to represent the Central Indiana Track Show Association Top 8 in the Indy 500 Parade.”
Purdue University’s All-American Marching Band and Indianapolis’ 38th Infantry Division Band will also perform, along with Indianapolis Public Schools All-City Marching Band and other Indiana high schools Goshen, NorthWood, New Prairie, Jimtown, Warren Central, Speedway and Eastern (Pekin). Bands also are coming from Belleville, Ill., and Bridgeville, Pa.
Parade tickets can be purchased at 500festival.com/tickets.
For more information about the AES 500 Festival Parade, visit 500festival.com/parade.
Additional local marchers
Several area band and color guard members are marching with the National Band Association Indiana All-Star Band in the AES 500 Festival Parade. Their names, role and grade levels:
- Hagerstown: Brooke Ballantine, bass clarinet, seventh; Mackenzie Bane, color guard, sophomore; Savannah Cross, clarinet, junior; Madyson Watkins, clarinet, eighth; Aiden Davis, baritone sax, junior; Paxton Thalls, alto sax, eighth; Mackenna Allee, trumpet, seventh; Patrick Fulton, trumpet, eighth; Braydon Sanders, trumpet, junior; Connor DeBruler, trombone, junior; Lizzy Haskett, baritone, senior; Ragen Lambert, baritone, freshman; Chris Sanders, baritone, seventh; Alek Stuart, tuba, senior; Alisha Estes, flag, sophomore; Deyvinni Horner, flag, ninth
- Northeastern: Sophomore Emma Bussen, trombone; junior Alexis Booher, trombone; sophomore Dakota Hayes, tuba; sophomore Sierra Longnecker, trumpet; junior Peter Hicks, trumpet; sophomore Mackenzie Cox, bass clarinet
- Richmond: Senior Bailey Shinn, trombone; sophomore Aiden Merkamp, tuba.
A version of this article appeared in the May 21 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.