Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day, the state’s largest free outdoor festival for children, will take place from noon to 4 p.m. this Saturday, May 11, 2013. Families can interact with local mascots, race mini cars, bounce in giant inflatables and create arts and crafts. Children can also visit with nationally-known characters and make sashes with the 500 Festival Princesses. Dozens of exhibitors will fill Monument Circle and surrounding streets with food, fun, educational games and more than 10,000 prizes. For the second year, kids can ride a free 70-foot Ferris wheel, race remote-controlled cars and test their skills in a race car simulator.
The KIDZ BOP Kids, the face and voice behind KIDZ BOP, the #1 music brand for kids ages 5-12 in the U.S., will headline the Indystar.com Entertainment Stage at the 2013 Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day. Local acts will include P.H.A.T., Garrett Godsey, G. Scotten Talent Center and Johnny Magic.
Chase 500 Festival Rookie Run
As part of the Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day, all kids ages 3 – 12 are invited to join in for the Chase 500 Festival Rookie Run at 1 p.m. It is a non-competitive fun run where everyone goes away a winner. The Rookie Run is a great way for kids to stay physically fit. Kids aged three to five will run a two-block course, runners aged six and seven will race a 1/5-mile course, while runners aged eight to 12 will run the 1/3-mile course. The race takes place on Ohio and Meridian streets, just north of Monument Circle. All participants will receive a goodie bag, a runner’s bib with the number 1 and a finisher’s medal. Pre-registration is $6 and ends on May 9 at 5 p.m. Event day registration is available for $10 at the corner of Pennsylvania and Ohio streets. Sponsors for Chase 500 Festival Rookie Run include Finish Line and MHS.
For more information on Kids’ Day, Rookie Run or other 500 Festival events and programs, visit www.500festival.com.
Event Schedule
- 1 – 4 p.m. on Friday: Ferris wheel construction on north spoke of Monument Circle
- Midnight on Friday: Monument Circle and spoke streets close for event preparation
- 5 a.m. on Saturday: Ohio Street between Illinois and Pennsylvania streets and Meridian Street north to New York Street close for Rookie Run set-up
- 11 a.m.: Rookie Run registration begins
- Noon: Kids’ Day is open to the public; North spoke opens for Food Services
- 12:45 p.m.: Cross streets begin closing for Rookie Run
- 1 p.m.: Rookie Run begins
- 3:30 p.m.: Rookie Run ends, Meridian Street from New York to North streets reopen
- 4 p.m.: Kids’ Day concludes
- 7 p.m.: All streets reopen
Parking Tips: Make a parking plan in advance of event day. Please arrive downtown early to give yourself plenty of time to find parking. Many downtown streets will be closed to traffic and public parking in preparation for the event. Meters will carry a four hour time limit.
Maps
- Map of the Kids’ Day event layout
- Map of the Rookie Run route
- Map of street closings for Kids’ Day and Rookie Run
Source: 500 Festival
