Indiana Black Expo (IBE) will present the 42nd Annual Circle City Classic Fall Festival on Sept. 25–26, introducing an overhauled schedule that spotlights local high school athletics alongside traditional HBCU culture and community programming.
Festivities on Sept. 26, will begin with the annual Circle City Classic Coaches Luncheon, recognizing participating coaches and student-athletes. The luncheon will feature the presentation of the Major Taylor Award to former Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II, who played for the franchise from 2017 to 2025 and earned Pro Bowl honors following the 2021 season. In addition, the top three student-athletes will be awarded IBE scholarships, with formal announcements taking place during the 7 p.m. game.
Actor Woody McClain has been named the Grand Marshal for the 2026 Circle City Classic Parade, scheduled for Saturday morning. McClain is widely recognized for his portrayal of Bobby Brown in BET’s “The New Edition Story” and “The Bobby Brown Story,” as well as his role as Cane Tejada in the STARZ series “Power Book II: Ghost.”
McClain will also participate in the Education Day and College Fair at Lucas Oil Stadium, speaking to middle school, high school and non-traditional students about his personal journey, creativity, and the importance of mental, physical, and emotional well-being. The college fair will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering direct access to admissions and financial aid representatives from HBCUs and regional universities.
On Sept. 25, the event transitions inside Lucas Oil Stadium for the Circle City Classic Reimagined High School Football Showcase. The schedule opens with girls’ flag football matchups featuring Crispus Attucks against Arsenal Tech at 10 a.m., followed by Lawrence North facing Ben Davis at 11:30 a.m. Boys varsity football action kicks off at 2 p.m. with Warren Central taking on Pike. It concludes with a 7 p.m. showdown between Lawrence North and Ben Davis.
“We’re excited and honored to have our students participate in the new Circle City Classic High School Showcase,” Principal at Pike High School and the Pike Freshman Center Jeremy Wolley said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to represent our school and community on one of Indianapolis’s biggest stages while celebrating excellence, culture, and student achievement. This event reflects the importance of education, leadership, diversity, and community engagement, values that align closely with our mission as a school. Again, we are honored to represent our students, families, alumni, and community in an event that has such a meaningful legacy throughout Indianapolis and across the state.”
Continuing the long-standing Classic tradition of showcasing HBCU marching bands, the stadium will host the HBCU Battle of the Bands at 5 p.m., featuring performances from Miles College, Talladega College and Kentucky State University.
Adult attendees ages 21 and older can attend the Circle City Classic Daycation Day Party from 1 to 5 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium, featuring food, music, and a Greek Stroll Competition showcasing members of the Divine Nine, the collective of nine historically Black fraternities and sororities.
The two-day celebration features a full slate of events, including the annual Coaches Luncheon, the Circle City Classic Parade, an Education Day and College Fair, high school boys football and girls flag football games, an HBCU Battle of the Bands, the Daycation Day Party, and a Greek Stroll Competition.
Tickets, complete schedules, and event details are available online at CircleCityClassic.com.
Contact multimedia & senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
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