An hour-long Downtown parade this morning was the first of two today in Indianapolis to celebrate Labor Day.

This afternoon’s parade, expected to draw a larger crowd, will be on the Southside.

More than 25,000 people were expected to attend the expanded Miracle Mile parade. The theme — Honoring Hoosier Heroes — will focus attention on the military, first responders and everyday unsung heroes. The adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, will serve as grand marshal, and honored guests will include Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and his wife, Winnie.

That parade was to start at 1 p.m. and run down Madison Avenue from Southern Avenue to Sumner Avenue.

Seven marching bands from area high schools and universities and dozens of floats were to participate in the parade. Other participants will include Murat Shrine Club’s Mini Mystics, hand-built miniature cars that resemble old Indy 500 racecars; Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Motorcycle Drill Team; Miracle Mile Cruisers, cars from the 1930s to the 1960s; Indianapolis Horse Patrol; Red Hats&Purple Chaps, a chapter of the Red Hat Society whose members are horsewomen who perform all over the state; Indiana Pacemates; Boomer, the Indiana Pacers mascot; Rowdie, the Indianapolis Indians mascot; Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders; Indy car driver Sarah Fisher, Indy car driver.

More than 100 organizations, businesses and community leaders were in the Labor Day parade that began at 11:15 a.m. on Pennsylvania Street, according to Susan Fuldauer, parade chairwoman. The Central Indiana Labor Council, AFL-CIO, sponsored the parade.

The parade features the Indy Classic Corvette Club, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Drill Team, and performances by members of Musicians Local 3.

Grand marshals were U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indianapolis; Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson; Joanne Sanders, a City-County Council member and union representative, and state Rep. Bill Crawford, D-Indianapolis, Fuldauer said.