▁Day " ▁Hon oring ▁the ▁Road ster ▁Era ▁ 2 0 1 9 : ▁" Leg ends ▁Day " ▁celebr ating ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 s ▁ 2 0 2 0 " ▁" Leg ends ▁Day " ▁celebr ating ▁mil estone ▁events ▁of ▁ 1 9 2 0 , ▁ 1 9 6 5 , ▁ 1 9 7 0 , ▁ 1 9 8 0 , ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁▁ 5 0 0 ▁Festival ▁Par ade ▁ ▁The ▁ 5 0 0 ▁Festival ▁is ▁a ▁non - pro fit ▁organization ▁founded ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 7 ▁to ▁organ ize ▁various ▁civ ic ▁events ▁in ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Indian apolis ▁leading ▁up ▁to ▁the ▁race . ▁The ▁two ▁largest ▁events ▁are ▁the ▁One America ▁ 5 0 0 ▁Festival ▁M ini - Mar athon ▁in ▁early ▁May , ▁and ▁the ▁ 5 0 0 ▁Festival ▁Par ade ▁the ▁day ▁before ▁the ▁race . ▁Other ▁events ▁have ▁included ▁" Comm unity ▁Day " ▁at ▁the ▁track , ▁mem orial ▁services , ▁lun che ons , ▁and ▁the ▁annual ▁S nake ▁Pit ▁Ball , ▁a ▁black ▁tie ▁social ite ▁gather ing ▁dow nt own . ▁ ▁In ▁many ▁years , ▁the ▁para de ▁grand ▁mar shal ▁has ▁been ▁a ▁celebr ity ▁with ▁t ies ▁to ▁Indiana ▁or ▁the ▁Indian apolis ▁area , ▁particularly ▁Indian apolis - area ▁sports ▁figures . ▁In ▁many ▁cases , ▁the ▁grand ▁mar shal ▁of ▁the ▁para de ▁is ▁also ▁hon ored ▁during ▁pre - race