Very much recommended going to Thunder through the KyScience Museum. Good food trucks, not too crowded, porta-potties or go inside. VIP area includes tables, chairs, separate seating area, food and drink tickets. Admission also includes entrance into the museum. This was my 5 year, good times! read more

Thunder Over Louisville - Festivals Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This was the best Thunder I have been to and I have only missed 3 in 15 years of living here (covid claimed 2 of those) They went and blew our minds with the drone show and then the fireworks that made my heart stop! It was beautiful, fun, great weather and the perfect thunder to get to come back to after covid quarantines! To the people behind this tremendous event: thank you so much for such a fun time for my family and friends and my fellow louisvillians!! read more

See all

By far the worst show I have ever experienced in my life. The 1 star is the show that a decade ago was amazing now in 2024 was embarrassingly bad. I hyped it up to fam and they all came, military and all and they laughed and even said this ain't no air show it's a waste of tax dollars. Food great as always but we weren't there for Jo taste event, Fireworks were okay. But seriously what happened to these shows? Whoever arranged this years event needs to be removed from any future decisions. read more

Thunder Over Louisville is such a fun event! Where else do you get a full day of air show, chow wagon (fair foods), and fireworks?! Hosted at Waterfront Park, the location is perfect! Watching the fireworks show from the bridge is absolutely magical. Regardless of your age, this event will make you feel magic like a kid again. The only negatives can be the weather (sometimes it's rainy or cold), which can't be controlled, the large crowds, and the long lines (which really go hand-in-hand). As long as you're chill and can handle waiting, sometimes a long time, for food, a drink, or the bathroom, you're going to love Thunder! read more

See all

The greatest firework display in he world. This yearly Louisville staple that kicks off the derby events is a spectacle that has given me great childhood memories and now is doing the same for my children as well Nobody does a firework celebration like our city does. read more

See all

Thunder Over Louisville was amazing, so glad our trip here coincided with this event, which kicks off derby week. Although we didn't go down by the river to watch we were able to see the fireworks from our Air-B-N-B on the top floor. I would definitely suggest getting a room downtown and avoid the traffic afterwards. You can watch the event live on TV as well. It a spectacular event starting in the afternoon with an air show including some very loud fighter jets. The fireworks show last about a half hour long, supposedly the biggest in the country! read more

Thunder Over Louisville, the most known kick-off to Derby, is an annual event that ends with Louisville's biggest fireworks display. People begin streaming downtown on both sides of the river for a parking spot and prime viewing spot. It's a long day so veterans of this event have their favorite location, whether it's at the Bats stadium, Science Center, great lawn or splurging on a hotel room. Several companies host viewing parties and make a day of it for their employees. (And this is my problem - once you've done it nicer than sitting on a blanket eating from the cooler, you never want to go back unless you can do it that way again!) Parking is one of the toughest issues. It's not only finding and paying for a spot but also getting home at a decent time. You can be stuck in a parking garage for a long time. Restrooms are another issue and going to a venue offers this convenience. I've seen too many children crying in line at the porta pots with intoxicated people because the lines are so long. An air show provides entertainment during the day hours. It's an opportunity to see jets and other equipment you've never seen before. If you prefer not to pack food, trucks are scattered along the river (like those you'd see at the state fair) or you can walk to a nearby restaurant. The event is rain or shine, cold or hot. You truly never know what Mother Nature has in store for you. Plan ahead and come prepared especially if you're bringing the kids. I also highly recommend an umbrella stroller for the day. It's one thing for your kiddo to walk to the event from the parking lot and quite another after the fireworks when it's dark and everyone else is flooding the sidewalks. If you choose not to head downtown you can tune into the local tv stations that broadcast the show and also beforehand to show you behind the scenes footage. read more

Thunder is an EXPERIENCE. And you need to be ready/prepared for it. Hundreds of thousands of people in a very small area. For the most part everyone is behaving and courteous (until you get in your car to leave after everything is done). This was my first year coming down for any part of the air show. I honestly didn't see a single plane. Every time I looked the sky was empty. I missed whatever schedule there was. So I have no comments about that. And I don't really care about air shows...I'm a 'there for the fireworks' person. But what I can say, for myself, is that I will only be going to Thunder in the future when I have access to real toilets, climate control, and either a place to stay the night downtown or if I love close enough to walk home. For me, once is enough. If you really love fireworks and go bonkers for airplanes...this is for you. read more

Thunder Over Louisville - Festivals Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Who doesn't love a huge air show and North America's largest annual firework show...FOR FREE?! Like, Shyeah! In all seriousness though. Thunder Over Louisville is really, really tough to beat. I'll break it down for ya... The Good: * Free. Any other explanation needed here? * Air Show. This portion of the show used to be the bomb diggity. I *think* that the KY Air National Guard used to do a lot more with the air show, and they used to get in some pretty incredible aircraft. Lately, it's been mostly biplanes, WW2 type aircraft, and whatnot. However, last year, they did have the Blue Angels (which were incredible). This year, they had the Thunderbirds. But there really wasn't a whole lot more than that... I think I heard that the bridge construction had something to do with it? Either way - it's free. I can't complain. I enjoy it, regardless. * Fireworks. The firework display is as good as any that I've ever seen anywhere. They do it right. I used to live in London. London is known for having a very impressive annual New Year's Eve/Day firework display that they have on the London Eye. When I told my British friends about Thunder Over Louisville, they all kind of gave me a little pat on the head and said, "That's nice. I'm sure it's very good." When I showed them the videos of Thunder Over Louisville, they were all blown away at how good it was. One of my friends remarked, "I thought it was going to be some little hillbilly thing by a pond with like 150 people there. I was way off. That's just as impressive as anything anywhere." Yes, mate. I know. Been tryin' to tell ya... * Greasy food. Yes. Fair food. Foot long corndogs, nasty hamburgers, chili cheese fries that will send you to the bathroom 15 minutes after you eat them... that kind of stuff. * Crowd. I love crowds. I love being around people and rubbing elbows with the public. * Weather. When it is a nice day, it's awesome to sit out in the sun and soak up some Vitamin D. The Bad * Crowd. The crowd has some good things about it. I enjoy people. But the bad thing being - it can be a nightmare getting back to your car when 700,000 people are funneling through Waterfront Park and the streets of Louisville. * Weather. Love it when it is good, hate it when it is bad. In fact, if the weather is bad, I won't go. I've been to Thunder when the weather was cold, rainy, windy, and snowy... it's miserable. Absolutely miserable. The good news - the crowd is much smaller when it is this way, if you care to go under such conditions. * Traffic. This portion of Thunder is a bloody nightmare. The key is, and I noted this under the "tips", is to park far away. The further away from the waterfront you park, the quicker you get home. If you park at some garage on 2nd and Main or 1st and Witherspoon, then you ain't gettin' home until like 2am. * Food prices. It is what it is. $8 for a hamburger, etc. * Length. It is a long day. And you will get sun burnt. And you will be exhausted. * Cell Phone Service. Because so many people are condensed into one area, you will pretty much lose all cell phone service. The Ugly * Crowd. Free events bring out the dregs of society. So you need to get there early enough (noon or earlier) to pick out a good spot, away from any silliness. All in all, Thunder is a great event for people of all ages. Kids to adults. It's free, and a wonderful day out. If you don't mind braving the crowd, I'd highly recommend it to you. read more

Thunder Over Louisville - Caught this with my phone. - Festivals Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

I've been many times, but for the past three years me and the kids have been on the Jeffersonville side and I must say it is fantastic. I'm not one to just sit so we walk around and people watch and look at all of the foods and exhibits. We logged over 5 miles yesterday. The crowd isn't quite as congested as Louisville, but still a ton of people. I always sit right on the river's edge and it's so beautiful. The air show is so much fun. If you haven't been before, it's a must. read more

Thunder Over Louisville - Festivals Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

Thunder Over Louisville kicks off our Kentucky Derby Festival each April. It is a spectacular event that includes an airshow, fireworks show, carnival type rides, delicious food, food trucks, games, music, etc. If you do only one thing in Louisville, I would definitely say this is what you want to do! Admission is free and there are numerous locations for Thunder goers to set up blankets and chairs for the day. The fireworks show is breathtaking to say the least and the music which is selected each year makes Thunder even better. Louisville Metro Police, Kentucky State Troopers, Jefferson County Sheriff Deputies and EMS are positioned at different locations ensuring they can respond to an incident in a timely manner. They are able to set up and execute a very safe traffic plan for those coming to the Thunder festivities as well as those leaving. Different businesses and facilities offer viewing/food options so you can enjoy the airshow and fireworks in comfort. Each year, we have a room w/ a view at The Galt House. There are balcony rooms, rooms w/ a partial view as well as ones without a view. Most people choose the rooms with out a view so they can avoid post firework traffic gridlock as well as a place to come back, take breaks or naps and eat. read more

See all

Thunder Over Louisville is the official kick-off for the Kentucky Derby Festival. It ushers in a series of events all designed to celebrate the upcoming majesty of the Kentucky Derby. The Zambelli family has produced and orchestrated the fireworks extravaganza for the last 29 years. Their get together is the premier fireworks viewing party. Thunder is comprised of a world-class air show and the largest fireworks display in North America. Thunder Over Louisville is the Zambelli families largest event. It is a must see. Hundreds of thousands of people spend the day in downtown Louisville sampling food, drinks and treating their kids to carnival rides. The air show features many types of aircraft flying over the Ohio River. The fireworks show is massive! The Second Street Bridge is shut down several days before and loaded down with the finest fireworks the creative Zambelli family and crew can engineer. Two massive groupings of barges are also loaded with fireworks for the show. It is all orchestrated to music which changes each year. If you haven't see it put it on your calendar for next year. It is a free gift the city of Louisville gives to its citizens and it should not be missed! read more

See all

The weather was horrible most of the day which was so sad. It didn't stop us from enjoying this event! By evening the skies had cleared and all was well. The airshow and viewing all of The different aircraft all day was pretty special & cool. The fireworks were spectacular!! The very best fireworks I have ever seen. Advice: splurge for the $7- $10 Pegasus pin that gets you into the gated space. Live band, River walk, no lines, a lot less teens. And...gives you access to all the pre derby riverfront testifies over the next two weeks! Wow!!! One kinda disappointing aspect: it is all run of the mill fair/carnival vendor food. I really thought they would have awesome food trucks...where are they? Why aren't they all at this event? Nevertheless, this is a must go event! read more

See all

2016 was a good year. Wait, 2016 was a GREAT year! Fantastic Air Show. Wonderful Weather. Outstanding music performed and recorded by the Louisville Orchestra to accompany the best fireworks show I've seen in my 20 years of viewing Thunder. Whether watching it in person and braving the crowds or viewing it on your t.v. or computer this was a terrific event. read more

What better way to kick off the celebration of the Kentucky Derby? Thunder Over Louisville is absolutely a phenomenal experience. Whether you're a local or a tourist, this event is a must! Not to mention one of the most exciting during Derby prep. It does get crazy and crowded for sure.. You just have to play it smart, find a good spot and expect it to be busy. I was incredibly lucky to have my apartment be only a few blocks down from the Ohio River, so my friends and I were able to walk there, avoiding the expensive parking and the traffic. There are many, many places you can Cath Thunder, from the Waterfront, to a downtown restaurant/bar, or even over in Indiana. The fireworks, air show and everything in between is a moment to remember. It's tons of fun and if it's not your first time, it'll make you feel great to be a Louisvillian. read more

If you live anywhere near the Louisville area you should definitely plan a trip to see Thunder over Louisville. At least once! The firework show is breathtakingly spectacular and will leave you in complete awe. The first time I went and saw it with my own eyes I was completely blown away. Best part? It's free! That being said I would also recommend visiting with a "game plan." The waterfront gets incredibly crowded and it is always a good idea to arrive early with blankets or chairs. Parking can be tough so arriving early prevents you from having to search for your car for hours on end. It can be hard to even get a Lyft because many of the roads will be blocked going into the city center. That being said: It is worth a trip! I just highly recommend planning for it so you can fully enjoy the fantastic experience that is: Thunder over Louisville! read more

Thunder Over Louisville - Festivals Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

If you have never attended Thunder you are really missing something special. We've been going for the past 16 years and this year was one of the best. The weather was perfect, the air show spectacular and the fireworks were indescribable. the music from the Louisville Orchestra was so special we hope they continue for many years to come. If you decide to go next year, go early and get a seat on the Great Lawn. People are friendly, it's clean when you get there (not when you leave) and the view is unbeatable. Go early to mark you territory and you can't go wrong. read more

See all

Had the chance to take in the Thunder Festivities from atop the Humana parking garage this year! I got the tickets via work but if I don't get them next year it's well worth the $100 price.. free food (Great food at that) and free drinks all day!!!.. perfect views of the air show and fireworks!!... Not to mention the GREAT weather we had!! read more

See all

Thunder over Louisville is worth the the visit. It's a legit BIG fireworks display. I love that it kicks off the KY Derby festivities in style. The air show is cool. It's all free. It's worth doing but be aware that you'll need to brave big crowds to do it. As long as you keep that in mind you'll be ok. Tip: buy a derby pin. The lines for food in the derby pin section were not as bad as the lines out side the pin section. read more

Thunder Over Louisville - Purple for prince? - Festivals Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

The weather didn't make this a perfect event but it kept the crowds away so we got to see everything. I was a little disappointed in the food offerings because it was the perfect opportunity to have great louisville food trucks out there. Instead there was mostly fair food and everyone selling the same thing. Do yourself a favor and pay the extra $7 to get into the main area with additional food trucks and the music stage. It's worth it! read more

Thunder, Thunder, Thunder. Thunder Over Louisville has been something I literally look forward every year. And I almost feel like there is nothing left after it's over. We not only get to see bad ass planes fly over our city but we also have one of the largest fireworks displays in the world as well! It kicks off the quickest two minutes in sports and all the festivities leading up The Kentucky Derby and the mint julep loveliness therein. Hundreds of thousands of people flood the waterfront on the Indiana and Kentucky side each year to watch the planes, fireworks and it just wouldn't be complete without all the greasy, fried food, cocktails and beer. I even saw a couple of tents selling Old 502 Winery wines. If large crowds and loud noises aren't your thing then you should probably wait at home. Another thing you're going to be expecting to see is the traffic, they shut down parts of the expressway and when the show is over getting home can take upwards of 3 hours depending on how far out you live from the waterfront. If you don't mind the aforementioned above then, get down to experience the joy that is Louisville's kick off to a two minute horse race. It's super fun and you get to learn about what our armed forces go through and even witness one helluva show at 9:30 p.m. that's set up to music and takes on a more theatrical sense each and every year. Thunder is what I look forward to each and every year. read more

My first Thunder here was amazing! I loved everything about it! Masses of people, tons of fried food, the best fireworks around and did I mention the masses of people! Most of them are aware of the thousands of other people around them and are relatively courteous. The food from the vendors is pricey because it is an outdoor event, but that was not a surprise and a lot of trash ends up on the ground I was lucky to have access to a banded building, so real bathrooms and air conditioning and that was the way to go. Any port-o-potty i saw had a line and after a full day, they could not have been pleasant. I didn't really care about the air show, but if you are not paying attention to the programming, you will miss it. The fireworks were my favorite, they really put on a great show and I could feel the cannon blasts and explosions through the ground. read more

Fireworks, people love 'em or hate 'em with a few falling somewhere in between those two poles. Me? I'm somewhere in the middle...just so you know for the sake of this review. And this was my first Thunder... The fireworks show at Thunder was freaking outstanding. I'd imagine even folks all the way on the 'fireworks= whatever' side would have good things to say. It lasts for a good 45 minutes and each set is more exciting than every finale at your average baseball game fireworks put together. If you can find a friend with a boat, I'd highly recommend piling on board and watching from the Ohio where you get a spectacular view of the city line with the fireworks directly overhead. It was great that we got to pack our own picnic, didn't have to worry about car traffic (still a little boat traffic) and got a perfect view. Anyway, I gotta say I love a good crowd of random people from all over the state and country and world gather round to take pleasure in something simple (well as an observer, it looks simple at least). So at some point I definitely wanna experience it in the sea of the masses. However, tuning into the radio station with Thunder coverage from the boat was just about as entertaining of people watching, maybe even better. read more

A truly fantastic all day event that everyone should try and attend at least once in your life. There are plenty of food trucks and booths if you are looking for something to eat or drink (yes, beer and liquor can be found, but you can't bring it in) or buy souvenirs. To have the best time, be sure to buy a Pegasus piin. This pin will give you access to all of the food and drink booths under the interstate and access to the great lawn, where you will have the best seats to see the air show in the afternoon and the fantastic fireworks show at night. This was my second time going to this event and I hope to go again next year. A word of warning, if you go, do yourself a favor and pack some warm clothes, even if the temperature is in the 70's. It gets much chillier when you sit near the Ohio river. read more

Thunder over Louisville is an event you have to try if you live in Louisville! There is an air show and 30 minutes worth of fireworks! There are a lot of vendors on both the Jeffersonville, Indiana and the Louisville side. I would recommend that you arrive in the morning to get the best view. The event usually draws 100,000 plus people. There are many places to pay to park. The vendors offer many different products for this event. You can purchase t-shirts, light up sticks, and all kinds of food. One of my earliest memories of Thunder was in 2000. The fireworks actually created a 2000 number in the sky. I would recommend that you attend this event next year! read more

Jaw. Dropping. This is a seriously huge fireworks show over the Ohio River. I mean that. As in the biggest in North America. As an aside, you can see it from both the Kentucky and Indiana sides of the river. There is food, there is activities, there is beverages and more. But really, its all about the fireworks. The show was about 45 minutes long, and worth all the waiting. I find that words don't really do the sheer magnitude of the fireworks justice. It's really something you've just got to see with your own eyes! GO! read more

Great area event! The air show was a little lite this year due to the construction cranes. Along with the bounce houses, the food vendors, and the toy sellers, the sight of the fireworks will be spectacular. read more

We have been to Thunder twice now. 2018 was . This is a must see event! Stay at The Galt House. You do NOT want to try to drive out of this. Traffic is horrendous. read more

For the past few years, I have been planning on taking a trip to Louisville to visit some friends at Thunder Over Louisville. So this year was finally my chance and I wish I had made it a priority to go before! This was the best festival I have ever been to. The air show lasted for hours and included the famous Blue Angels. The fireworks were unlike any other, with the show being the largest firework show in North America. The festival costs the city of Louisville over 1 million dollars, just to give an idea of what goes into this event. I hope to be back next year! read more

I have been to this event for over 10 years, the quality of exhibits is going down as the years pass. Its one reason or another. This year the reason was told to be the bridges work and the cranes and the high water level. Normally they have 2 barges on each side of the 2nd street bridge. Not this time. Normally they have multiple planes doing stunts. Not this time. There were banners flown by many companies before. Not this time. We were sitting @ the science center parking lot, which must be right in front of the fire works, We paid premium tickets for nothing. Traffic was messy and unorganized this time - unlike previous times. In short --- It seems the Thunder Over Louisville mgmt is keeping too much money in their pockets and less fun for people who come to view the event. read more

Thunder is always a great experience. However what would be better, is if the event staff were culturally competent. Thunder brings out people of from all avenues. Event staff should be aware of this, and should treat all accordingly. Also, treating everyone with kindness and not just those who look like them. As event staff at thunder, you are working with everyone and everyone should be treated equally with respect. some of the rude event staff I witnessed was disheartening and killed "the vibe". Understanding how many people you will encounter, as an event staff you should prepare yourself for this, and not go into the day with a negative mindset being rude to people. That's not what the Thunder over Louisville is about. The company that puts on Thunder shouldn't hire just anybody. Because it everyone is going to promote the event in the best way. And it's too great of an event to be ruined by bigots/prejudice. read more

The greatest annual fireworks show in the world! Nearly a million people flood both sides of the river all day long for the festivities. We have been going since it's inception and are never disappointed! read more