Circle City Classic returns to Indianapolis with parade, high school games and HBCU bands

The 42nd annual Circle City Classic returned to Indianapolis for a weekend of music, marching bands and local youth football. Organizers reimagined the Classic to celebrate historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) traditions while incorporating Indianapolis-area high school talent. The weekend combined a downtown parade with a schedule of stadium events at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Parade began at 10 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of North and Pennsylvania streets. Actor and entertainer Woody McClain served as grand marshal. The parade traveled south on Pennsylvania Street, turned west onto Ohio Street near the Salesforce Tower, then headed north on Meridian Street. The 1-mile loop finished near the American Legion Mall and Indiana World War Memorial. The parade typically draws nearly 100,000 spectators.

Lucas Oil Stadium hosted four matchups and the HBCU band competition. The Saturday game lineup announced for the stadium was:

• 10:00 a.m.: Crispus Attucks vs. Arsenal Tech (girls' flag football)
• 11:30 a.m.: Lawrence North vs. Ben Davis (girls' flag football)
• 2:00 p.m.: Warren Central vs. Pike (high school showcase)
• 7:00 p.m.: Lawrence North vs. Ben Davis (high school showcase)

Organizers positioned the stadium slate to give local high school athletes a larger platform and to raise scholarship funds.

Bands took place at 5 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium between the afternoon and evening games. The lineup included:

• Kentucky State University — Mighty Marching Thorobreds
• Talladega College — The Great Tornado Band
• Miles College — Purple Marching Machine

Musicians and dancers spent months preparing choreography and musical arrangements. Miles College dance captain Kaniyah Cooper said she was excited to showcase months of work and to compare performances with the other bands.

A pep rally Friday outside Lucas Oil Stadium offered a preview of the weekend energy and featured local groups including cheerleaders. Ben Davis cheerleader Aniyah Williams said the large stage felt like home and helped keep her calm. The pep rally aimed to amplify community participation ahead of the parade and stadium events.

Organizers reimagined the Circle City Classic to center youth engagement while maintaining HBCU musical and cultural traditions. That approach replaced the usual collegiate football matchup with a slate of high school games and the HBCU band battle, creating multiple entry points for local athletes and performers to appear on a major Indianapolis stage.