LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Thunder Over Louisville is this weekend, and it's all hands on deck as the city prepares for one of the largest annual fireworks displays in North America.
This is the 30th year for the event that kicks off the festivities for the Kentucky Derby, and city officials have detailed plans in place for traffic. The annual road closures for Thunder include I-64, I-65 and I-71 near downtown, as well as surrounding downtown streets.
They'll close at 8:30 p.m., about an hour before the fireworks, and reopen afterward.
CLICK HERE for Louisville road closures
Waterfront Park is always packed for the air show and fireworks, but this year, for the first time in recent memory, there are no construction projects nearby. That means the venue will accommodate more people than ever.
The city is expecting over 725,000 people to jam the banks of the Ohio River on Saturday night, according to Louisville Tourism, which means police, EMS and firefighters will be surrounding the area to keep it safe.
To make sure first responders can communicate in an area where cell phone signals could be unreliable, the Kentucky Derby Festival has teamed up with AT&T to use FirstNet, ensuring that hundreds of first responders will have a direct line of communication.
"When all of those spectators are in one venue, it can create difficulties for commercial networks with the tremendous increase in demand," said Hood Harris, president of AT&T Kentucky. "First responders using those networks have to compete with those spectators. We believe safety should never come second."
Unlike last year, city officials believe river conditions are favorable for boaters and expect many to enjoy the air show and fireworks on the water. So there will be dozens of officers patrolling the Ohio River to keep those spectators safe.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BOATING SAFETY GUIDE
Bring your Pegasus Pin for free admission, but leave your pets, tents and drones at home. Make sure you check the link below for a complete list of items you cannot bring.
CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF PROHIBITED ITEMS
Watch parties on the Louisville side include the Kentucky Science Center, Muhammad Ali Center, KFC Yum! Center, Copper & Kings and the Great Lawn.
The Kentucky Center for the Arts party is canceled this year as the building recovers from a recent fire.
On the Indiana side, watch parties include Bridge and Barrel, Buckhead Mountain Grill, Cox's Hot Chicken, Flat12 Bierwerks, The Barrelhouse on Market and the Widow's Walk Ice Creamery.
CLICK HERE FOR A GUIDE TO INDIANA THUNDER PARTIES
Vendors are already setting up the Chow Wagon at Waterfront Park. They'll open at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Hotel rooms are still available in downtown Louisville for both Friday and Saturday.
"Room availability is on track with last year," Galt House Spokeswoman Monica Edwards said. "Saturday will likely sell out as it does each year, but a few rooms are available.
"Unlike previous years, you can book individual nights, rather than a minimum two-night stay. No rooms with views remain for this year. However, there are views from the conservatory, and there is easy access to the riverfront. Next Thunder, the entire west tower renovations will be complete, including the parlor suites with balconies overlooking the river."
An Omni Louisville spokesperson said rooms are also still available at the hotel.
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