LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – An estimated 250,000 people lined Broadway on Thursday to watch The Kentucky Derby Festival's oldest event – the 57th annual Republic Bank Pegasus Parade.
Grand Marshal Cyndi Lauper opened the event by singing one of her signature songs, "True Colors." University of Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari and his coaching staff, which led the Wildcats to their eighth NCAA championship in April, served as Honorary Grand Marshals.
The theme of this year's Pegasus Parade was "Family, Fun and Games."
[SLIDESHOW: 2012 Pegasus Parade]
Other celebrities who participated in this year's parade included Lauper's husband, actor husband David Thornton; Once Upon a Time star Josh Dallas, a Louisville native and former New Albany, IN resident; actor Jonathan Kite of Two Broke Girls; Vicki Gunvalson of The Real Housewives of Orange County; poker pros Robert Williamson III and Josh Arieh; and 2012 Miss America Laura Kaeppeler.
The Norton Healthcare float won the Addison McGhee Sweepstakes Award for best overall float. Kosair Charities/Kosair Shriners won the Board Chair's Award; CenterStage at the Jewish Community Center won the President's Award; Second Chance@Life won the Grand Marshal's Award; Hwang's Martial Arts won the Queen's Award and the Kentuckiana Pride Festival won the Chairman's Award.
Grand Champion Equestrian Unit went to the Young Guns 4-H Equestrian Drill Team. The first place award for Best Mounted Equestrian Unit went to Muhlenberg 4-H Horse Club. Best Commercial Driven Equestrian Unit went to Express Clydesdales; Non-Commercial Driven Unit was awarded to Shetland Miniatures. Jasper (IN) High School won the Grand Prize in the Basil Caummisar Battle of the Bands competition. Fierce Ent. LLC won the Ray Wimberg Specialty Unit Award, Chick-fil-A of Kentuckiana won the Earl Ruby Inflatable Spirit Award and Muhlenberg 4-H Horse Club won the Pooper Stars Award.
WAVE 3 has been the official broadcast home of the Pegasus Parade since 1982. The 57th annual Republic Bank Pegasus Parade aired live on WAVE 3 and wave3.com and was hosted by WAVE 3 News Anchor Dawne Gee and Meteorologist Brian Goode.
Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All rights reserved.
Vicki Gunvalson of "The Real Housewives of Orange County"
Spectators along the parade route.
More parade watchers along Broadway Thursday evening.
