For 33 years, the Kentucky Derby Festival has had its formal kickoff with fireworks. Over the years Thunder has grown to include an air show. The free event draws upwards of 800,000 fans to the shores of the Ohio River to take in this afternoon and evening spectacle.
For airshows, most of the action happens in “The Box”. Known as the “acrobatics box” or just the “show box”, this area of sky has been cleared by the FAA to allow the aircraft to show off. For Thunder, the Second Street Bridge splits the box into two parts. To the right of the bridge exists the Great Lawn and Waterfront Park, where many of the Kentucky Derby Festival events take place. The left side is more of the traditional Louisville downtown area including a large gathering area known as The Belvedere and a large park in Clarksville, Indiana adorns the far side of the Ohio River.
Hundreds of thousands of people pack into these areas to watch the show for free. However, there are locations where you can watch in a more private, controlled setting from rooftop parties of local businesses to dinner aboard a real steam-powered paddle boat, the Belle of Louisville.
This is a prime location since it sits in the middle of the left half of the show box and has cover in case of rain or other bad weather. For this Thunder, the only weather issue was the temperature. With temperatures in the low 50s and a brisk wind, heading to the low 40s by the time the fireworks would go, being able to take advantage of the enclosed and heated area of the Belle was quite welcome.
Your tickets include a buffet (pulled pork and pulled chicken this year) and plenty of tea and lemonade. The Belle’s bar was open for soft drinks or adult beverages.
Over twenty acts took to the sky, twisting and turning with their engines thundering as they powered by. The acts ranged from military helicopters to first-generation WWII-era jets to the latest fifth-generation stealth jets.
After the airshow ended with a final jump by the US Army’s Golden Eagles trailing pyrotechnic streamers into the Great Lawn, it was time for the main show. Coming up the Ohio River from the Locks, floating lights of drones could be seen in the distance.
Showtime
Audio playing over the Belle’s speakers and from various places along the waterfront started with a countdown and a NASA-like “Go No Go” system check. Then BOOM! The sky lit up. Two barges anchored in both halves of the show box sprang to life, launching a mirrored display of mortar shells into the sky and exploding in color. Light from the burning fireworks sparkled in a cascade from the Second Street Bridge.
While the weather was quite cold and windy, the show went off without a hitch.