36th Zoopolis 500 at the Indianapolis Zoo, May 20, 2015

Indianapolis Zoo. AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2013, all rights reserved.

By Carla Knapp
Indianapolis Zoo

Ready. Set. Slow! The 36th running of Zoopolis 500 presented by the American Dairy Association Indiana is May 20, 2015, at the Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Considered the “Greatest Spectacle in Tortoise Racing,” this event is one of the Zoo’s most popular and longest running traditions.

Zoopolis 500 puts a unique twist on the Indianapolis 500 and regularly draws thousands of local fans and national media attention.

This beloved event features the “racing” radiated tortoises as well as 2013 Indianapolis 500 champion Tony Kanaan, who will serve as the honorary race steward, and former Indianapolis Motor Speedway chief announcer Mike King, who will call all the Zoopolis action.

Race-day activities begin at 10:30am at the Entry Plaza where guests can meet the 500 Festival Princesses and get pictures with a 500 Festival Pace Car.

Guests can also get a chug of Dean’s milk (while supplies last), meet Zoo mascots and pose for photos with a winner’s wreath.

Pre-race analysis then begins at 11am at Dean’s Arena as King and Kanaan take center stage along with Zookeeper Jon Pilarski, who will share some expert insights before the main event.

The parade around Dean’s Arena begins at 11:30am and also includes 500 Festival Princesses, the Dairy Princess, American Dairy Association mascot Buttercup and the racing tortoises.

Following the parade, Kanaan will drop the green flag on the feature race and guests can cheer for their favorite tortoise as they “speed” toward the finish line and a tray of delicious fruits waiting in the winner’s circle.

At the finish line, the winning “pit crew” will enjoy icy cold bottles of milk, provided by the American Dairy Association Indiana.

Following the race, guests are invited to meet the winning tortoise and his crew — Zookeepers who can answer tortoise-related questions and tell guests all about the Zoo’s efforts to help these critically endangered animals.

Zoopolis 500 activities are free for Zoo members and included with regular admission. Guests are encouraged to save time and money by planning their visit in advance at http://indianapoliszoo.com/. For more information, call 317-630-2001.

Things to do in Indianapolis, May 19-25, 2014

Snakepit Ball at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, May 24.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2013, all rights reserved.

15 Public Events in Indianapolis and Indiana
VERIFY ALL EVENT LISTINGS TO BE CERTAIN THEY WILL BE HELD AS SCHEDULED

1. SUN: 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
2. SAT: 58th Annual IPL 500 Festival Parade in Downtown Indianapolis
3. TUE: Indiana Pacers NBA Playoffs Basketball at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
4. SAT: KeyBank 500 Festival Snakepit Ball at the Indiana Roof Ballroom
5. MON: Spotlight 2014 at Clowes Memorial Hall
6. THU: Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds
7. WED-SUN: 31st Annual Banks of the Wabash Festival in Terre Haute
8. WED: 500 Festival Community Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
9. WED: 34th Annual Zoopolis 500 at the Indianapolis Zoo
10. THU: Statehouse Market at the Indiana State Capitol Building
11. THU: Rev Rally in Brownsburg
12. SAT-SUN: 38th Annual Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous in Knox County
13. SAT: 69th Annual Visit Hendricks County ‘Night Before the 500’ at Lucas Oil Raceway
14. FRI: Indiana Fever WNBA Basketball at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
15. FRI: 500 Festival Memorial Service on Monument Circle

For more information about thousands of upcoming events and things to do in Indianapolis and Indiana, visit our main Web site at http://aroundindy.com/, or go mobile at http://aroundindy.com/mobile. Thank you for using AroundIndy.com as your source for Indy events!