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Thunder Over Louisville
Date(s)April
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Louisville, Kentucky
Founded1989; 35 years ago (1989)
Websitethunderoverlouisville.org

Thunder Over Louisville is an annual airshow and fireworks display in Louisville, Kentucky, serving as the kickoff event of the Kentucky Derby Festival. It is held on a Saturday in April preceding the Kentucky Derby, the first Saturday in May, usually by two weeks.[a] For some time, it was the largest annual fireworks display in North America. To this day, the event remains one of the largest.[1][2]

Thunder began as part of an opening ceremonies event in 1989 with daytime fireworks. 1990 brought the first nighttime fireworks event. It officially began in its current location along the Ohio River in 1991 with fireworks, and an air show was added in 1992.

Thunder generally starts in the afternoon with an air show, followed by the fireworks show starting at 9:30 pm, along with a synchronized soundtrack through PA and radio. An average of 625,000 people have attended each year since 1997, lining the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville, and across the river in Jeffersonville and Clarksville, Indiana. Some also watch from the river on boats, docked in positions auctioned off for charity.[3] Eight 400-foot barges launch the fireworks, provided by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale, from both sides of the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge, and more fireworks are launched from the bridge itself.

In the 21st century the estimated attendance at Thunder has usually been approximately five times that of the main attraction, the Kentucky Derby.

History

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2018 show from the upstream side of the bridge on the Indiana shore of the Ohio River

Thunder Over Louisville began as a concept at a Kentucky Derby Festival workshop in the summer of 1988, after a decision had been made to have opening ceremonies for the first time.

The first opening ceremonies were held in 1989 at the Chow Wagon on the river and broadcast live to the They're Off! Luncheon crowd at the Galt House East. Organized by multimedia producer Wayne Hettinger, owner of Visual Presentations, they featured a live stage show to introduce the festival theme song and the release of about 20,000 multicolored balloons—followed by daytime fireworks.[1] Attendance was estimated at 10,000.

The first nighttime fireworks show was in 1990 at the old Cardinal Stadium in the Kentucky Exposition Center, where more than 35,000 people attended a Derby Festival opening ceremonies concert by Janie Fricke and a 4,000-shell fireworks show following a sold-out Louisville Redbirds baseball game.[4][5]

Fireworks had been used in Derby festivities since the 1960s, but the positive impact of fireworks on this concert—particularly the echoing sound—led to the firework show's name when it was held the following year over the Ohio River.[4]

In 1991 the event moved to Waterfront Park, and Zambelli Fireworks Internationale's Master Pyrotechnician Raymond M Loffredo began handling the fireworks. The Air Show began in 1992, and has featured such notable aircraft as the Harrier, the B-2 (Stealth Bomber), and the F-117 (Stealth Fighter) as well as the Apache Attack Helicopter.

The event expanded rapidly in scale and attendance; by 1996 more shells were exploded in the first minute than in the entire 1990 show. In 1997, the Air Force designated Thunder Over Louisville as one of the events for its 50th anniversary celebration.[1][6] More than 125 military aircraft performed that year, making it at the time the largest combined fireworks and air show in the US.[1]

2018 show as seen from the Indiana side of the Ohio River

The event relies heavily on corporate donations. In 2000, when Kroger pulled out after 10 years of sponsorship, the Kentucky Derby Festival was left scrambling for money. They announced the Thunder Funder program, in which individuals can make small donations. In 2006, McDonald's announced that they would be the title sponsor for Thunder Funder and donate 10 cents from the sale of every 32-ounce drink in a commemorative cup to the Derby Festival. This promotion continued until 2014. In 2015, the restaurant chain pledged $100,000 to the event.[7]

The fireworks show has grown in size and scope every year, with over 52,000 shells used in 2004, and 60,000 in 2005.[8] The fireworks show usually lasts 30 minutes. There is traditionally a 3-minute finale which organizers call by the name Gargantuan. This is usually preceded by a short break in the fireworks and an audio score of "The Colonel Bogey March" as whistled in the movie Bridge on the River Kwai, often catching first time spectators, who believe the show has ended, by surprise.

The 2007 event had a record crowd, whose size was estimated at 850,000 by the event producer. Such counts do not include thousands of people who watch from area rooftops at "Thunder parties" held by individuals with proximity advantaged addresses in downtown, Old Louisville, Portland and the Butchertown neighborhood immediately upriver from downtown, as well as river adjacent neighborhoods in the Indiana communities of Clarksville and Jeffersonville.

In 2010, a computer glitch 30 seconds before the show during a pre-recorded minute long audio countdown to the fireworks caused an 18-minute delay while the problem was troubleshooted.[9]

In 2020, Thunder Over Louisville was canceled for the first time in its history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kentucky Derby was postponed to September, and took place with no spectators.

The following year, fireworks were launched throughout the city to reduce crowd sizes due to COVID-19 precautions. The show was televised locally, and in-person spectators were discouraged from gathering. The same year, a boat accident occurred on the Ohio River near the Greenwood Boat Docks as a large amount of spectators attempted to view the fireworks from the river. One barge collided with a boat, killing three people. Four people were rescued from the Ohio River by barge operators.

Year Theme Corporate sponsors Attendance (estimate) Shells TV coverage
1991 "Thunder Over Louisville" used for fireworks only. Kroger, UPS, Kool-Aid, Oscar Mayer 175,000[10] N/A WHAS
1992 Celebrating KY's Bicentennial year, "Celebrate Kentucky" Kroger, Louis Rich, UPS, Kool-Aid N/A WHAS
1993 Derby Festival Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville Kroger, Louis Rich, UPS, Coca-Cola, Paramount Foods N/A WHAS
1994 "Phantom of the Opera" Kroger, Louis Rich, UPS, Coca-Cola, Paramount Foods N/A WHAS
1995 "An American Thunder" Kroger, Louis Rich, UPS, Coca-Cola, Paramount Foods N/A WHAS
1996 "A Hollywood Thunder" Kroger, Louis Rich, UPS, Coca-Cola, Tyson/Holly Farms N/A WHAS
1997 "A Wild Blue Thunder: USAF 50th Anniversary" Kroger, Louis Rich, UPS, Coca-Cola, Tyson/Holly Farms 800,000[11] N/A WHAS
1998 "A Thunder Fantasy" Kroger, UPS, Coca-Cola, Kraft/Oscar Mayer 450,000[12] 34,126 WHAS
1999 "The Best of Thunder" 10th Anniversary Kroger, UPS, Tyson/Holly Farms 500,000[12] 39,420 WHAS
2000 "A Millennium Thunder" Blue Chip Broadcasting, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, Caesars Indiana, Ford, UPS 750,000[13] 45,000 WHAS
2001 "A Festival Odyssey" Blue Chip Broadcasting, Caesars Indiana, Ford, UPS 700,000[14] 51,333 WHAS
2002 "A Stars & Stripes Thunder" Caesars Indiana, Ford, Radio One, Thorntons, Tricon, UPS 600,000[15] 51,334 WHAS
2003 "Centennial of Flight" Caesars Indiana, Ford, UPS, Yum! Brands 750,000[16] Under 50,000[b] WHAS
2004 "A Broadway Thunder" Caesars Indiana, Ford, UPS 700,000[17] 52,000 WAVE
2005 "Thunder Rocks" Caesars Indiana, Chase, Ford, UPS 300,000[17] 60,000 WAVE
2006 "Thunder Country" Caesars Indiana, Chase, E.On U.S., UPS 800,000[11] N/A WLKY
2007 "The Magic of Thunder" Caesars Indiana, E.ON U.S., Meijer, UPS 850,000[18] 62,000[19] WDRB
2008 "Out of This World" Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, E.ON U.S., Meijer, UPS 350,000 35,000+[20] WDRB
2009 "Thunder Road" Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, E.ON U.S., Meijer, UPS 700,000[18] N/A WHAS
2010 "Thunder Fever" Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, E.ON U.S., Meijer, UPS 700,000 56,215 WAVE
2011 "Thunder Power" Horseshoe Southern Indiana, LG&E, Meijer, UPS 300,000[21] N/A WLKY
2012 "A Star-Spangled Blast" Horseshoe Southern Indiana, LG&E, Meijer, UPS 700,000 50,000 WDRB
2013 "Thunder Vision" Horseshoe Southern Indiana, LG&E, Meijer, UPS 500,000 56,000+ WHAS
2014 "Throwback Thunder" Horseshoe Southern Indiana, LG&E, Meijer, UPS 675,000[22] 54,000+[23] WAVE
2015 "Boom with a View" Horseshoe Southern Indiana, LG&E, Meijer, UPS 650,000[24] 56,000[25] WLKY
2016 "No Strings Attached" Horseshoe Southern Indiana, KentuckyOne Health, LG&E, Meijer, UPS, Valero 725,000[26] N/A WDRB, AFN
2017 "Thunder: Local and Original" Horseshoe Southern Indiana, KentuckyOne Health, LG&E, Meijer, UPS, Valero 725,000[26] N/A WHAS, AFN
2018 "A Disco Thunder" Horseshoe Southern Indiana, KentuckyOne Health, LG&E, Meijer, UPS, Valero 800,000[26] N/A WLKY, AFN
2019 "The Wonderful World of Thunder" Horseshoe Southern Indiana, KentuckyOne Health, LG&E, Meijer, UPS 700,000 60,000 WAVE, AFN
2021 "Illuminating Our Community" Caesars Southern Indiana, Ford, GE, LG&E, Meijer, Papa John's, UPS None N/A WHAS, AFN
2022 "The Legend Returns: USAF 75th Anniversary" Caesars Southern Indiana, Ford, GE, Humana, LG&E, Meijer, Papa John's, UPS 851,000 N/A WLKY, AFN
2023 "Through the Decades" Caesars Southern Indiana, Ford, GE, Humana, LG&E, Meijer, Papa John's, UPS None N/A WAVE, AFN
2024 "Celebrating Derby 150" Caesars Southern Indiana, Ford, GE, Humana, LG&E, Meijer, Papa John's, UPS TBA N/A WDRB, AFN

Weather

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Due to the complexity of the event, including road closures, police presence, and technical requirements, there is no rain date for Thunder. The event has never been canceled due to weather. Officials would cancel if severe weather or lightning was imminent, and the fireworks could be delayed if heavy rain or wind was occurring at the time of the show.

In 2005, unseasonably cold weather brought a temperature of 38 at 8:30 pm, an hour before the fireworks. A brief downpour of heavy sleet cleared all but an estimated 10,000 spectators from the riverfront by fireworks time.

In 2011, temperatures in the 40s caused a much lower attendance than usual.

Thunder over Louisville on 2018
2018 show from the downstream side of the bridge on the Indiana shore of the Ohio River

Ohio River flooding was a concern for the 2015 event, but organizers did not let the high water cancel the festivities. It did make some traditional viewing areas inaccessible and additional safety precautions had to be taken to make the show possible.[27]

The warmest Thunder Over Louisville on record happened in 2022 when Louisville hit a high of 87 degrees.

TV coverage

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Thunder Over Louisville has been televised locally since its first year. The 2007 show was the first to be broadcast entirely in HDTV. Previously, two or three HDTV cameras supplemented the broadcast.[28] TV coverage of the fireworks received record ratings in 2006 due to cold temperatures which made many people choose to watch the show from home.

In 2005, The Kentucky Derby Festival started rotating the broadcast rights each year between 3 of the major Louisville network affiliates (WAVE-TV, WDRB, and WLKY). After airing the coverage exclusively from 1991 to 2003, WHAS-TV chose not to participate in the rotation for several years after this agreement was made. They have since entered the rotation.[29][30] The show is traditionally rebroadcast on the 4th of July, on the U.S. military's American Forces Network.[31][32]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ In years where Easter Sunday falls on the usually scheduled weekend, Thunder is moved a week earlier.
  2. ^ An official count was not released for the 2003 show, which was scaled down due to budget reductions.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Campbell, Clay W. (2001). "Thunder Over Louisville". In Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 883. ISBN 0-8131-2100-0. OCLC 247857447. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Reed, Gege (March 4, 2024). "From Thunder Over Louisville to the parade, 2024's top 16 Kentucky Derby Festival events". Courier Journal. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Hall, Gregory (April 23, 2005). "Boaters pay up for dockside Thunder". The Courier-Journal. p. B1.
  4. ^ a b "Thunder Over Louisville". Thunder Over Louisville. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Throwback Thursday – Thunder since 1990". The Courier-Journal. April 16, 2015.
  6. ^ Barrett, Stephen (January 8, 1997). "Air Force Thunderbirds Announce 1997 Schedule". defense.gov. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "McDonald's pledges $100,000 to help Thunder". The Courier-Journal. February 27, 2015.
  8. ^ Shafer, Sheldon (March 15, 2005). "New sponsor, community punch up Thunder". The Courier-Journal. p. B5.
  9. ^ "Meet Wayne Hettinger, the man who produces Thunder". The Courier-Journal. April 11, 2014.
  10. ^ John Belski (April 11, 2014). "Some of my favorite stories about Thunder Over Louisville". WLKY. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Thunder rolls on the river", The Courier-Journal, April 22, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
  12. ^ a b Walfoort, Tina (April 18, 1999). "Despite cold, Thunder still thrills". The Courier-Journal. p. 1B.
  13. ^ Coomes, Mark (April 16, 2000). "Mega-Thunder!". The Courier-Journal. p. 1B.
  14. ^ Smith, Peter (April 22, 2001). "THUNDER: Fireworks, air". The Courier-Journal. p. 1B.
  15. ^ Edelyn, Sheryl (April 21, 2002). "Trashy scene greets cleanup workers at Waterfront Park a day after Thunder". The Courier-Journal. p. 1B.
  16. ^ Kenning, Chris (April 13, 2003). "Thunderous Salutes". The Courier-Journal. p. B1.
  17. ^ a b Halladay, Jessie (April 24, 2005). "Cool show, cooler weather". The Courier-Journal. p. B1.
  18. ^ a b "The Courier-Journal". The Courier-Journal.
  19. ^ Ritchie, Christa (April 21, 2007). "Counting the hours to Thunder". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  20. ^ Shafer, Sheldon (February 7, 2008). "Thunder theme 'Out of This World'". The Courier-Journal.[dead link]
  21. ^ Downs, Jere (April 16, 2011). "Thunder Over Louisville's noise quieted by windy, wet chill". The Courier-Journal.
  22. ^ "Thunder Over Louisville's 25th anniversary show draws more than 650,000 — Louisville – Louisville Business First". Louisville Business First. April 14, 2014. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  23. ^ Erica Coghill (April 10, 2014). "Preparations in full swing for Thunder Over Louisville". WLKY. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  24. ^ "10 arrests made during Thunder". The Courier-Journal. April 19, 2015.
  25. ^ "The Show – Thunder Over Louisville". thunderoverlouisville.org. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  26. ^ a b c "Number in attendance for 2016 Thunder revealed". WHAS11. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  27. ^ "Flooding to close some Thunder viewing areas". The Courier-Journal. April 14, 2015.
  28. ^ "WDRB plans thunderous debut for landmark HDTV broadcast". Louisville Business First. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  29. ^ "Louisville TV Stations To Rotate Thunder Coverage". wave3.com. January 31, 2005. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  30. ^ "WHAS spends months planning Thunder television broadcast". Louisville Business First. April 19, 2013. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  31. ^ "The Courier-Journal". The Courier-Journal.
  32. ^ "Thunder Over Louisville to be rebroadcast by AFN on July 4". Louisville Business First. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
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