THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE 2020

EVENT CANCELLED :(

WHAT: THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE 2020
WHY: FIREWORK AND AIRSHOW EVENT
WHEN: 18TH APRIL 2020
WHERE: WATERFRONT PARK, LOUISVILLE
COST: FREE

Reportedly ‘the largest annual fireworks display in North America’, Thunder Over Louisville has been a part of the annual entertainment in the region since it started back in 1988. Initially, a small event which featured only daytime fireworks; that was soon to change. In 1991, one of the USA’s first firework families, Zambelli Fireworks Internationale, got involved and the rest they say is history.

At the outset, fireworks were an important part of the proceedings and in 1991, they launched around 4000 shells. By 1996, the same number of shells (4000) were launched in the first minute as were used in total in 1990. Today, Thunder Over Louisville brings around 700,000 spectators to see the 60,000 shells launched from eight, 400 feet long barges and the bridge over the Ohio River.

The firework display is HUGE and lasts around 30 minutes and last year, they really tricked everyone who was not used to seeing the display, as they used a false finale, dropped it right back and then BOOM, ‘the Gargantuan’, which is the local’s name for the super finale filled the skies thrilling and in some cases shocking the audience.

Spectator numbers do not include locals who hold huge rooftop parties around the City where they have a clear view of the firework display, so the real number of spectators is probably closer to the million mark.

The theme for this year is ‘Thunder’s Greatest Hits’ where organisers are going to put together all the greatest hits of events in the last 30 years so it is going to be a thriller as the reason for the name ‘Thunder Over Louisville’ was in a nod to Days of Thunder, a fabulous racing film from 1990, starring Tom Cruise alongside an all star cast.

The fireworks are of course the main reason for attending the event but the daytime is packed with aviation specialists from the armed forces and is another show not to be missed. There will be attractions, food concessions and all manner of entertainment around throughout the day and into the late evening.

The event is only made possible because of the generosity of the fabulous sponsors maintaining this as a free event for the entertainment of everyone.

The aviation demonstrations are from the following:

• US NAVY F35 DEMO
• US AIRFORCE F16 VIPER DEMO
• US MARINE CORPS MV22 OSPREY DEMO
• US ARMY GOLDEN KNIGHTS PARACHUTE DISPLAY TEAM
• WILD BLUE RV8 – TRIBUTE SHOW TO FIRST RESPONDERS

A great day out. Check out the video of the fireworks from 2018.