Latest news with #500FestivalParade
Indianapolis Star
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
'It turned heads at first:' She's a 500 Festival princess. She's also an Eagle Scout
INDIANAPOLIS -- Nat Restivo says she was "very much a tomboy growing up" with an older brother and an older sister and plenty of hand-me-down clothes to choose from. "But of all the clothes that I got passed down to me, I always opted for basketball shorts and a T-shirt," said Restivo, "instead of her Aeropostale jeans." By the time she was 10, Restivo was tagging along with her brother's Boy Scout troop. She went hiking and camping, roughing it up with the boys. Then one day as an unofficial Boy Scout, Restivo was at a troop service day setting up seating for the 500 Festival Parade downtown. That's when a princess waved at her. "I didn't really know what it was. I saw 33 women wearing tiaras and I thought, 'Oh, that's so cool,'" said Restivo. "One of them waved at me. (I thought) they must be famous." But that 10-year-old Restivo didn't turn into a princess right then. Instead, she went on to become a founding member of one of the first female troops in Scouting America, formally the Boy Scouts of America. And she went on to become a female Eagle Scout. Restivo knows how to tie seven distinct knots, the square knot, two half-hitches, taut-line hitch, sheet bend, bowline, clove hitch and timber hitch. She has 21 merit badges earned in categories such as emergency preparedness and medicine. She worked hundreds of community service hours. And she renovated an entire playground for her final act of service. Then last year, that 500 Festival Princess idea reappeared when Restivo was a sophomore at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville. Restivo applied and landed a spot in the ring with 32 other princesses. "It turned heads at first," said Restivo, 20, who is a nursing major with minors in medical humanities and social work. "I don't look like a traditional Scout. People are surprised that I am an Eagle Scout and then I'm also a 500 Festival princess." Restivo grew up in Plainfield in a family that focused on service. Restivo's mom, Melanie, was always heavily involved in the community. And her grandparents were involved with the local church and Meals on Wheels. "So my mom, whenever there was a service opportunity, she packed all three kids up," said Restivo. "And we were at it." Scouting was a big part of the family's life. Restivo's brother, Dominic, gave his little sister the scouting bug and let her tag along. "I was just young enough to be able to go to all the trips but not old enough to be able to stay back on my own," Restivo said. "So I'd go to all the campouts with them. I remember I was so young that I was like learning almost everything on these camp outs. I learned how to tie my shoes on a camp out." She soon earned the troop nickname of their Boy Scout buddy. And it was Restivo's brother who first alerted the family that the rules had changed. Girls were officially allowed to join all Boy Scouts of America programs in 2019. "And my mom said, 'Are you interested in this?'" Restivo said. "I was kind of hesitant at first. I was in middle school, and I was kind of shy. I didn't know if I wanted to join. I didn't know if my friends would follow me in joining. But I've been so grateful that my mom kind of pushed me and she was like, 'This is going to benefit you. Let's try it out.'" On Feb. 1, 2019, the first day a female troop could be chartered, Melanie was at the office at 8 a.m. And the Plainfield Troop 308G was born, made up of five girls, including Restivo. It was one of the first female troops created in Indiana. Restivo went on to earn the rank of Eagle Scout in 2022, joined the Order of the Arrow, served as a camp counselor at Ransburg Scout Reservation and earned Firecrafter. "Being a scout, I'm not sure honestly, where I would be without it, because it did teach me so much leadership," said Restivo. "It taught me resilience and also taught me all these morals and values that I still carry with me." It also gave Restivo the confidence to apply to be a 500 Festival princess. After seeing a college friend serving as a princess, Restivo started researching the program. "That's when I learned it's more about community service and education than it is a pageant," she said. "And that was eye opening to me." Her friend encouraged her to apply. "And it was majorly outside my comfort zone. I'm one that I like to do things in the background. I'm kind of in the background of leadership," she said. "But I'm so glad I was able to step outside my comfort zone because I never would have met these 32 other amazing women and then everybody I've met through my outreach." Some of those people, including the princesses, were surprised to find out Restivo is an Eagle Scout. "It turned heads at first. And I think it's nice to turn heads sometimes," she said. "It's bringing awareness to this program and to scouting." And it's nostalgic for Restivo, thinking back on how her journey began as an "unofficial boy scout" with that princess waving at her all those years ago. "She made me feel seen in a sea of thousands," Restivo said. "That moment stuck with me. Now, I get to be that person for someone else."
Indianapolis Star
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Scot Pollard is 500 Festival Parade grand marshal. What to know about the NBA champion
Scot Pollard will be the grand marshal for the AES 500 Festival Parade. The Carmel resident will lead during the Indianapolis 500 race weekend event on May 24. Here's what you should know about the 2025 AES 500 Festival Parade grand marshal. The 6-11 Pollard played in the NBA for 11 years, including for the Indiana Pacers from 2003 to 2006. He is an NBA Champion and three-time NBA Finalist. He was the 19th pick of the 1997 NBA draft, chosen by the Detroit Pistons. A three-time NBA Finalist, Pollard retired after his Boston Celtics won a championship in 2008. The son of former University of Utah basketball player Pearl Pollard, Scot Pollard was born in Murray, Utah, and grew up in San Diego, California, and Kennewick, Washington. He played college ball at the University of Kansas, where he graduated in 1997 with a degree in education. Pollard appeared as a contestant on the reality television series 'Survivor: Kaôh Rōng' in 2016, being voted out on Day 27 and becoming the fourth member of the jury. 🏁🏎️: 500 Festival Parade returns. What to know about parking, performers and tickets He received a heart transplant in February 2024, after contracting a virus in 2021. (The donor was Casey Angell, a 45-year-old man who'd died in a Texas hospital after a short health battle.) He and his wife, Dawn, started the non-profit Pearls of Life to advocate for organ donations, educate the community and support families who are going through the organ transplant or donation process. Dawn Pollard serves as the organization's executive director and Pollard is the volunteer spokesman, traveling the country sharing his personal story. IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow contributed to this report.
Indianapolis Star
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
500 Festival Parade returns. What to know about parking, performers and tickets
A tradition since 1957, the downtown Indianapolis parade celebrating the Indianapolis 500 marches on. 2025's AES 500 Festival Parade is expected to draw more than 200,000 spectators to watch floats, giant helium balloons, bands and all 33 Indy 500 what to know about one of the most anticipated events of the year: The parade will take place on Saturday, May 24. Festivities kick off at 11:45 am, and the parade begins at noon. WTHR, Channel 13, will broadcast the parade live for the Indianapolis audience, while Peacock will stream the event live. WTHR will re-air the broadcast at 8 p.m. on May 24. NBA champion and former Indiana Pacer star Scot Pollard is this year's grand marshal. Kelsey Hart is the featured performer for the AES 500 Festival Parade Opening Production. The Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders and Pacemates will also perform. Hart will perform a post-parade concert at Turntable starting at 8 p.m. The general admission show benefits the 500 Festival. Use code PARADE to get tickets for $10 at The parade starts at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North streets and goes south to Washington Street, east to Meridian Street, and then north on Meridian to end at North Street. See the parade route at The 2025 theme is 'Connected Through May,' celebrating how the 500 Festival unites with local organizations and community members through its diverse events and programs, especially in May. AES 500 Festival Parade tickets are on sale, starting at $25, at Proceeds from all 500 Festival ticketed events help support the organization's free education, health, and fitness initiatives for Indiana youth. Organizers suggest arriving early to find parking, as many downtown streets will be closed to traffic and public parking in preparation for the event. Several parking facilities will be open for event parking, but due to street closings, not all routes into the various parking locations will be available. 500 Festival Parade recommends drivers: Visit for street close on May 23 for Vermont Street between Pennsylvania and Delaware streets; and on May 24 for the parade route.
