Welcome to Thunder Over Louisville, an epic annual airshow and fireworks display where the sky erupts with a symphony of jaw dropping colour and sound that marks the official start to the Kentucky Derby Festival.

Dubbed the "largest annual fireworks display in North America,"  Thunder Over Louisville began back in 1989 and transforms the picturesque waterfront into a bustling epicentre of excitement as spectators gather to watch the awe inspiring fireworks, air shows and entertainment.

But it’s really much more than just a fireworks show. Thunder Over Louisville is an unmissable event where skilled pilots take to the skies performing daring stunts and thrilling performances that leave spectators spellbound. From the dazzling explosions illuminating the Ohio River to the roar of engines overhead, Thunder Over Louisville promises to be an unforgettable experience everyone who attends.

With huge crowds, usually in excess of 500,000, gathering for such a large scale, all day, event, the top recommendation for enjoying Thunder over Louisville is to pick a spot to watch from and get there early. You might also want to give some thought to your food and drink requirements for the day, as well as bathroom locations, as getting moved around the area can be pretty tricky once the crowds build up!

Thunder over Louisville Date

The event date for 2024 will be 20th April with the fireworks scheduled for 9.30pm (ET).

Event Schedule

The Airshow is due to begin at 3pm at Waterfront Park

Drone Show from 9pm

Fireworks 9.30pm

Popular viewing areas include:

Thunder Chow Wagon on Waterfront Park

Slugger Field

Clark Memorial Bridge

North Great Lawn

Meijer family fun zone on West Belvedere

Big Four Bridge on East River Road

Riverfront Plaza

One of the best vantage points to be had is at the Thunder over Louisville VIP Rooftop Party, which offers appetizers and dinner from Kentucky Proud Cuisine, complimentary bar, private restrooms, VIP tent access, as well as the best views of the air show and the fireworks.

Get your tickets for this event here: VIP Rooftop Party

TV, Live Streaming

There is live TV and radio broadcast coverage of the event each year, making it easy to watch live online streaming if you can't make it in person. Check out the following stations:

Thunder over Louisville coverage Wave 3

Coverage on WDRB

Coverage on WLKY

There is also live radio feed via local station WVEZ 106.9 PLAY, who will be broadcasting a live feed of the entire Thunder over Louisville soundtrack:

Listen live

Hotels and Accommodation

Louisville is generally busy throughout the Kentucky Derby festival, and in terms of sheer numbers the Thunder over Louisville weekend is the busiest time so we recommend you make your hotel reservation as soon as you can to get the best prices.

You can check availability and make reservations for local hotels here.

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