2024 Thunder Over Louisville guide to everything you need to know!

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Thunder Over Louisville is the all-day event that serves as the opening ceremony of the Kentucky Derby Festival on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

The event is free to all who purchase a 2024 Pegasus Pin. The $7 pins are sold at hundreds of retailers in Louisville and southern Indiana.

There are plenty of vendors in viewing areas along the Ohio River, if you don't bring your own food and drink.

The day begins with an airshow that includes a variety of military aircraft and aerial acts. The big event is the 30- minute fireworks along the waterfront from two barges and the Second Street Bridge. It's the longest continuous fireworks show in the U.S.!

Thunder forecast:

Make sure to check the latest forecast from WDRB Meteorologists:

CLICK HERE.

Thunder on WDRB:

Start your day with WDRB Mornings from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday to know what to expect. Then stay with us all day!

10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Inside Thunder on WDRB
11 a.m. to Noon – Crossroads: The Making Of Thunder
Noon to 3 p.m. – Thunder on WDRB: Kick-Off
3 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Thunder on WDRB: Air Show
8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Thunder on WDRB: Pre-Fireworks Show
9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Thunder on WDRB: Fireworks Show
10 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Thunder on WDRB: Wrap-Up
11 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. – Thunder on WDRB: Fireworks (R)

How to watch Thunder on WDRB

WDRB personalities will be on both sides of the Ohio River bringing you all the people, planes and fireworks. Of course, you can watch on TV, but you can take WDRB with you.

The full day of broadcasting will be on our WDRB.com website, the WDRB News app, the WDRB+ TV anywhere app for your phone, and the WDRB+ streaming app on your Fire, Apple or Roku TV.

Here's a link to learn how to download the apps. Click here.

Thunder in the sky!

Thunder Over Louisville includes a day full of planes, helicopters and aerial demonstrations. Look to the sky over the Ohio River to see numerous aerobatic routines and some of the most unique aircraft in the country, many of them having a connection to the Louisville area.

2024 Highlights include:

Air Force Viper Demo and Heritage Flight
Air Force C-17 Demo (with an aerial refueling demonstration)
Navy Growler with Legacy Flight
U.S. Air Force Wings of Blue
Matt Younkin’s “Magic by Moonlight” performance
Vintage Champion Air Racer “Mr. Mulligan”
Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Demo

Appearances include international partners like the Canadian CF-18s and German A400 “Grizzly."

Spectators will witness fly-bys from the B-52, a flight of Kentucky Air National Guard C-130s, and numerous rotary aircraft, including a helicopter infiltration and extraction demo accomplished by the Kentucky Army National Guard and the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron.

*PLEASE NOTE: Aircraft subject to change on show day.

Locations and attractions on the waterfront

North Great Lawn - Opens at 9 a.m.

Featuring the best views of the show, a beer garden, a variety of food and thunder sound.
The UPS Flight Deck is a prime viewing and photo-taking spot, with additional activities.

South Great Lawn - Opens at 9 a.m. Activities open at 11 a.m.

The AKIMA Military Zone includes the Kentucky Army National Guard Vehicle Display, U.S. Air Force Simulation Trailer, U.S. Army Blackhawk Helicopter, U.S. Coast Guard Boat and Helicopter, and the U.S. Marines Pull-up Challenge.
Additional activities from 502 Hemp, AFS Foundation & Waterproofing Specialists, Colts in Motion, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Harbor House of Louisville, Heuser Hearing Institute, LasikPlus, T-Mobile, Universal Windows Direct, Verizon, War Survivors Institute
And families can enjoy the amusement rides:
- Ali Baba
- Chopper
- Lil’Wheel
- Merry Go Round
- Music Express
- Ships Ahoy
- And more

Thunder Chow Wagon - Opens at 11 a.m.

As always, the delicious Chow Wagon® includes a Beer Garden featuring Don Julio Tequila, Four Roses Bourbon, Miller Lite, Old 502 Winery, and Coke products.
And the Miller Lite Music Stage features Lampus from 2:30pm – 5pm and Soul Circus from 6pm – 9pm.

Big Four Bridge Lawn - Opens at 11 a.m.

The Meijer Family Fun Zone runs from 12pm-8pm and has plenty of family-friendly fun options including Big Red Chair Photo Opp, Bounce House, Derby City Foam Parties, Fowling (football-bowling), Football Toss, Giveaways, Inflatable Cornhole, Inflatable Obstacle Course, Inflatable Slide, Putt-Putt Mini Golf, Speed Pitch, Face Painting (2pm-6pm) and much more.
Enjoy refreshments from the Miller Lite Beer Garden along with a variety of food vendors.

Belvedere - Opens at 11 a.m.

Concessions available.
Front row view of the Drone Show Powered by LG&E

West River Road - Opens at 9 a.m.

Airshow, Drones & Fireworks viewing along the Wharf!
Rides: Fun House, Quads, Revenge of the Pirates, Round Up, Slide, Strawberries

Where to buy official Thunder merchandise, Pegasus Pins and event pins

Chow Wagon
South Great Lawn
East Great Lawn
2nd and River Rd.
3rd and River Rd.
4th and River Rd.
Witherspoon and Bingham
Merchant Row along Witherspoon

Helpful tips from the Kentucky Derby Festival

Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk some.
Purchase a 2024 Pegasus Pin for $6 in advance, $7 at the gate.
Arrive as early as practical for the best space. Food service starts at 3 p.m. at all sites, and the airshow begins at 3 p.m.
Park as far away from the event area as you can comfortably walk. This will make exiting traffic easier.
Use TARC buses to get to the event using normal routes. There is expanded service all day.
P.A.R.C. or Riverside Garages in the area are accessible until full for special event rates, call 502-587-PARK for more information. All handicapped spaces are honored until full.
Follow the LMPD traffic plan, and you’ll get home faster.

What to bring and what is banned

What to leave home:

Drones
Tents
Canopies
Stakes
Tape/Rope
Alcohol
Glass bottles
Grills
Pets
Bikes
Skateboards
Skates

What to bring:

Picnic blankets
Tarps limited to 10’x10’
Plastic bottles
Food
Sunscreen

Isaacs & Isaacs offering FREE rides home:

Looking for a way to have a great time at the Thunder Over Louisville without worrying about putting yourself or others at risk on the road when the party's over? Attorney Darryl “The Hammer” Isaacs, owner of Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers, is ready to give you a ride.

Just download the "Hammer Hub" app (available for Apple and Android devices).

Once you’ve downloaded the app, you can use it to get a free voucher from Uber or Lyft to get home after the Thunder activities. Limited vouchers will be available from 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024 to 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. To claim your voucher, go to the app store and download the Hammer Hub app.

Traffic changes and street closings

Louisville interstate and street closings

Clark Memorial Bridge (Second Street Bridge)

Thursday, April 18, 2024, 9:45 a.m. to midnight
Friday, April 19, 2024, All day
Saturday, April 20, 2024, All day
Sunday, April 21, 2024, midnight to 2 p.m.

10:30 a.m. Friday, April 19, 2024 – 8 a.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024

West River Road from 2nd Street to 6th Street (local access to Joe’s Crab Shack)
Witherspoon Street from Preston Street to Brook Street
East River Road from Preston Street to Witherspoon Street
Bingham Way from West River Road to Witherspoon Street
Floyd Street from Witherspoon Street to Washington Street

Midnight Friday April 19, 2024 – 8 a.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024

Ramp from westbound Interstate 64 to Third Street
Ramp from Second Street to eastbound Interstate 64
Second Street from Main Street to West River Road (local access to local garages only)

9 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024 – 8 a.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024

(Local traffic and pass traffic will be allowed provided there are no pedestrian safety issues.)

Witherspoon Street from Brook Street to Second Street
Witherspoon Street from Preston Street to Adams Street
Washington Street from First Street to Second Street
Armory Place from Liberty Street to Muhammad Ali Boulevard
Preston Street from Main Street to Witherspoon Street
Floyd Street from Main Street to Washington Street
Brook Street from Main Street to Witherspoon Street
First Street from Main Street to Witherspoon Street
Second Street from Main Street to Witherspoon Street
Third Street from Main Street to River Road (access will be allowed to parking garages)

1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024 – 9 a.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024

Washington Street from Preston Street to 1st Street

5 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024

Kennedy Bridge at I-65 North

6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024 – 2 a.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024

2nd Street from Main Street to Jacob Street
Muhammad Ali Boulevard from Clay Street to Roy Wilkins Avenue (9th Street)

7 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024

Kennedy Bridge at I-65 South

8:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024

Interstate 65 northbound from Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) to Interstate 64
Interstate 65 southbound from Interstate 265 (Indiana) to Interstate 64
Interstate 64 westbound from Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) to 22nd Street
Interstate 64 eastbound from Interstate 264 (Shawnee Expressway) to Interstate 65

8:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024

Preston Street ramp entrance to I-65 North
St. Catherine Street ramp entrance to I-65 North
Muhammad Ali Boulevard ramp entrance to I-65 North
9th Street ramp entrance to I-64 East
9th Street ramp entrance to I-64 West
22nd Street ramp entrance to I 64 East
Zorn Avenue ramp entrance to I-71 South
Grinstead Drive ramp entrance to I-64 West
Cannons Lane ramp entrance to I-64 West

9 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 1 a.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024

Third Street from Main Street to Broadway will be one way southbound
Market Street from Sixth Street to 10th Street will be reversed from eastbound traffic to westbound traffic

Emergency Route Only:

Authorized emergency vehicles can use the following route from 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024:

Muhammad Ali Boulevard from Roy Wilkins Boulevard to Clay Street
Second Street from Main Street to Jacob Street
Northbound Second Street traffic will be diverted at College Street

Louisville no parking areas:

There is a long list of places you can't park beginning Friday morning, April 19 and all day Saturday, April 20. Here's a link to help you navigate. Click here.

Jeffersonville street closings:

The following roads and parking lots will be closed on Saturday, April 20, from 6 a.m. to midnight:

Riverside Drive from Walnut Street, west to Clarksville (closed beginning Friday, April 19 at 5 p.m. through the end of Thunder on Saturday)
Market Street from Spring Street, west to Clarksville
Missouri Avenue from Market Street north to South Clark Boulevard
Southern Indiana Avenue
River Pointe Plaza, North Shore Drive, Clark Street and Fort Street
The parking lots located under the Kennedy Bridge
100 block of Spring Street
100 block of Wall Street
100 block of Locust Street
Pearl Street from West Maple Street south to Riverside Drive
Mulberry Street from West Maple Street south to Riverside Drive
West Court Avenue at Broadway Street west to Missouri Avenue
All alleys along the floodwall from Walnut Street, west to the city limits
West Maple Street west of Mulberry Street

History of Thunder Over Louisville

The Kentucky Derby Festival had its first “opening ceremonies” event in 1990 at Cardinal Stadium featuring recording artist Janie Frickie and a fireworks show. That led to the first “Thunder” in 1991, held downtown over the Ohio River.

According to the KDF website, the show has become the region’s largest annual event, attracting a regional and even national audience. The air show was slowly added as a way to stagger the crowd entering the event and provide entertainment before the 9:30 p.m. fireworks portion.

The air show is now an event of its own and ranks in the top 5 air shows in the nation. Thunder Over Louisville has made a lot of people happy, garnered international attention, entertained millions and given Greater Louisvillians something else to brag about.

Learn more about Thunder on the Kentucky Derby Festival website, click here.

More Kentucky Derby Festival coverage: