LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
Where is it?
Thunder Over Louisville is held on Saturday, April 13, at Louisville's Waterfront Park.
When is it?
The air show begins at 3 P.M. and the fireworks start at 9:30 P.M. and last until 10 P.M. on Saturday, April 13.
Where can I get more information about Thunder Over Louisville?
You can find a full list of times and rules by clicking here: thunderoverlouisville.org
Are there road closures due to Thunder Over Louisville?
Jeffersonville has closed the following roads on the Indiana side of the Ohio:
Riverside Drive from Jeff Boat west to Clarksville
Market St. from Spring St. west to Clarksville
Missouri Ave. from Market St. north to South Clark Blvd.
Southern Indiana Avenue
River Pointe Plaza, North Shore, Clark St. and Fort Street
The parking lots located under the Kennedy Bridge
The 100 block of Spring St.
The 100 block of Wall St.
The 100 block of Locust St.
The 100 block of Pearl St.
The 100 block of Walnut St.
Mulberry St. from W. Maple St. south to Riverside Drive
Pearl St. from W. Maple St. to Riverside Drive
W. Court Ave. at Ohio Avenue west to Missouri Ave.
All alleys along the floodwall from Jeff Boat West to the city limits
The Louisville Metro Police Department closed the following roads on the Kentucky side of the Ohio:
Clark Memorial Bridge (Second Street Bridge)
Thursday, April 11: 9:30 am to Midnight
Friday, April 12, 2019 All day Saturday
April 13, 2019 All day
Sunday, April 14, 2019 Midnight to 2 pm
10 am (Friday, April 12, 2019) – 2 pm (Sunday, April 14, 2019)
- River Road from Bingham Way to Sixth Street
- Bingham Way from Joe’s Crab Shack/Witherspoon Street to River Road
1 pm (Friday, April 12, 2019) – 9 am (Sunday, April 14, 2019)
- Witherspoon Street from Preston Street to Brook Street
- Floyd Street at Washington Street closed (only open to residents)
- River Road from Preston Street to Witherspoon Street
Midnight (Friday April 12, 2019) – 9 am (Sunday, April 14, 2019)
- Ramp from westbound Interstate 64 to Third Street (no turn on River Road)
- Ramp from Second Street to eastbound Interstate 64
8 am (Saturday, April 13, 2019) – 1 am (Sunday, April 14, 2019)
- Second Street from Main Street to River Road (local access to local garages only)
9 am (Saturday, April 13, 2019) – 1 am (Sunday, April 14, 2019)
(Local traffic and pass traffic will be allowed provided there are no pedestrian safety issues.)
- River Road from Witherspoon Street to Preston Street
- Frankfort Avenue from River Road to Story Ave. (local and Tow Lot traffic only)
- Witherspoon Street from Brook Street to Second Street
- Witherspoon Street from Preston Street to Adams Street
- Washington Street from First Street to Second Street
- Preston Street from Main Street to Witherspoon Street
- Floyd Street from Main Street to Witherspoon Street
- Brook Street from Main Street to Witherspoon Street
- First Street from Main Street to Witherspoon Street
- Second Street from Main Street to River Road
- Third Street from Main Street to River Road (access will be allowed to parking garages)
6 pm – 11:30 pm (Saturday, April 13, 2019)
- Ramp from Muhammad Ali Boulevard to Interstate 65 northbound
- Ramp from Jackson Street to Interstate 65 northbound
8:30 pm (Saturday, April 13, 2019) – 1 am (Sunday, April 14, 2019)
- Market Street from Fourth Street to 10th Street will be reversed from eastbound traffic to westbound traffic
8:30 pm – end of night (Saturday, April 13, 2019)
- Third Street from Main Street to Broadway will be one way southbound
8:30 pm – 11:30 pm (Saturday, April 13, 2019)
- 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 14th Street
- Interstate 64 eastbound from Interstate 264 (Shawnee Expressway) to Interstate 65
- Interstate 71 southbound from Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) to Interstate 65
Emergency Route
Only authorized emergency vehicles can use the following route from 6:30 pm on Saturday, April 13, 2019
- 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 Breckinridge Street
The Big Four Pedestrian Bridge is also closed during Thunder Over Louisville
What's new this year?
Matthew Gibson, with the Kentucky Derby Festival, said they have been working with a new fireworks show designer and they also worked with new fireworks providers this year. Gibson said this year's show incorporates new technology and will be a display of color and quality unlike "anything we've seen before." There will also be new acts in the air show.
In addition to family support stations throughout the venue this year, the festival will also have a station provided by Le Leche, to assist families needing to breastfeed or store milk on the grounds.
The Kentucky Derby Festival has teamed up with AT&T to employ FirstNet. It is a nationwide public safety communications platform, to ensure first responders can connect to a network, while operating at events with large crowds.
"When all those spectators are in one venue, it can create difficulties for commercial networks with the tremendous increase in demand," Hood Harris, president of AT&T Kentucky, said. "We believe safety should never come second."
Harris said the system will be used throughout the festival's events, and in future years as well.
What can't I bring to Thunder Over Louisville?
- No Drones – The FAA has established a no-fly zone around the Thunder venue. Unmanned aircraft, such as drones, won't be allowed within 5 miles. Any drones on site could shut down the air show. Violators face confiscation and up to an $11,000 fine. This will be strictly enforced.
- No Tents or Canopies of any kind will be allowed within Waterfront Park. Structures of ANY kind will be required to be taken down. This will be strictly enforced.
- No taping or roping off of larges areas will be allowed. This will be strictly enforced throughout the Thunder venue.
- No overnight camping allowed in Waterfront Park or the overall event area. Waterfront Park officially closes at 11PM on Friday Night and will open at 9 AM on Saturday morning.
- No glass bottles are allowed at the event site. Plastic containers, cans and food are permitted. There are food and soft drink stands throughout the venue to take care of any needs you may have. Beer is also available at the Chow Wagon at Waterfront Park, North Great Lawn and Meijer Family Fun Zone on the West Belvedere.
- No FOOD or DRINK allowed in the Thunder Chow Wagon, but it is permitted in the North Great Lawn viewing area, Meijer Family Fun Zone on the West Belvedere, and other areas of the Thunder venue.
- No alcoholic beverages are allowed.
- No grills are allowed within the Thunder venue.
- No bikes, skateboards or skates are allowed in the event venue. You will be asked to walk them in for pedestrian safety. If you ride your bike to Thunder, valet parking is available at the corner of Preston and Witherspoon Streets.
- Please leave any pets at home.
- A picnic blanket or tarp (limited to 10'x10′) and lawn chairs are allowed inside the Thunder venue (including the North Great Lawn viewing area).
- All persons and parcels are subject to search.
MORE THUNDER INFORMATION: