Join us for the official kickoff of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, April 23rd! Thunder Over Louisville lights up the sky with a phenomenal airshow and fireworks display along the Ohio River, and Upland Jeffersonville is the front row seat.

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The much-anticipated Kentucky Derby Festival will return to the Waterfront, bigger and better than ever before. Thunder Over Louisville, currently in its 33rd year, will kick off the two-week festival with a triumphant return to the city for the first time in two years. This year’s event is based on the aptly named theme “The Legend Returns,” featuring a stellar lineup guaranteed to make the wait worthwhile.

With the country’s largest and best-known firework display and its breathtaking airshow all taking place at the country’s most prime outdoor location – the prestigious Waterfront – the hype and buzz you’d typically expect this time of year has reached fever pitch. There is an uproar of people on the edge of their seats awaiting the return of the grandest spectacle to ever grace the state of Kentucky, for the first time in two years.

The tradition of firing off fireworks on Derby Day, Louisville’s most famous horse race, dates back to 1991. Since then, the fireworks have been held over the Ohio River at the exact location. They are launched from big barges near the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge and from the bridge itself. The airshow was introduced to the schedule in 1992. Thunder Over Louisville, a spectacular airshow and fireworks extravaganza along the Ohio River, lights up the sky, and Upland Jeffersonville has a front-row seat. Thunder Over Louisville is North America’s largest yearly fireworks spectacular and the country’s fifth-largest airshow.

Here’s all you need to know about Thunder Over Louisville in 2022.

When Is Thunder Over Louisville?

The Thunder Over Louisville will take place on April 23rd, 2022.

What time Is Thunder Over Louisville?

The pulsating air show commences at 3 pm, followed by the firework display at 9.30 pm.

Where Is Thunder Over Louisville?

This year’s Thunder Across Louisville returned to its usual locations in Louisville’s Waterfront Park, 129 River Road, and across the river in Indiana after being postponed in 2020 and a “remote” show in 2021 that took place in unannounced places throughout Louisville.

Who Will Be the Main Attraction at the Thunder Over Louisville Airshow?

The country’s top air displays will return for the fifth year, with planes from the United States Navy’s E/A-18G Growler Demo with a Legacy Flight, Younkin Airshow, and the Commemorative Air Force’s B-25, B-24, and B-25 on display.

How Can I Experience the Thunder Over Louisville if I Can’t Attend in Person?

You can listen to or watch the air display and fireworks from the comfort of your own home on Summit Media Mix 106.9 FM or WLKY TV. Alternatively, you can stay up to date on the event by visiting the Kentucky Derby Festival’s website, KDF.org.

Reserve your table or outdoor beer garden tickets at Upland Jeffersonville today!