PHOTOS | Thousands flock to the riverfront for Thunder Over Louisville 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The official start to Derby season is underway!

RELATED: Everything you need to know about Thunder Over Louisville 2024 | FULL GUIDE

Thousands of people flocked to the riverfront in southern Indiana and Louisville to witness the wonderful sight that is Thunder Over Louisville. 

It's a staple that dates back to 1988. It's dubbed as "the nation’s largest annual fireworks event" and "one of the top five air shows in the country." This year's theme is all about "Celebrating Derby 150."

The air show starts at 3 p.m., with fireworks following right after at 9:30 p.m.

All TARC routes will be fare-free for the whole day of Thunder Over Louisville. For all of those details, click here. 

Uber and Lyft are also partnering with a local law firm to give people free rides after the event. Click here for more information. 

Here's the full Thunder Air Show 2024 lineup:

NOTE: Organizers said aircraft and times are subject to change on show day.

• 3:00 p.m. – F-16 Viper Four Ship (180th Fighter Wing OH ANG, Toledo, OH)
• 3:10 p.m. – UPS Airlines Boeing 747-800 (Louisville IAP, KY)
• 3:22 p.m. – Navy EA-18 Growler Demo Team (Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA)
• 3:37 p.m. – Navy Legacy Flight
• 3:47 p.m. – 123rd Special Tactics Squadron Parachute Team, KY ANG (Louisville KY)
• 3:57 p.m. – C-130J "Super Hercules" Four Ship (123rd Airlift Wing, KY ANG, Louisville KY)
• 4:00 p.m.  – Navy MH-53 Helicopter (HM-15 Norfolk NAS, Norfolk VA)
• 4:10 p.m. – UH-60 Helocast (Bravo Co. 2-147 Air Assault, Frankfort) and (123rd Special Tactics Squadron, KY ANG, Louisville, KY)
• 4:18 p.m. – BREAK

RELATED: WHAS11 gets behind-the-scenes look at how pilots prepare for Thunder Over Louisville's air show

• 4:24 p.m.  – USAF KC-135 Stratotanker (97th Airlift Wing, Altus AFB, OK)
• 4:39 p.m. – USAF C-17 Globemaster III (97th Airlift Wing, Altus AFB, OK)
• 4:54 p.m. – Matt Younkin Twin Beech Aerobatics Demo (Day Show)
• 5:06 p.m. – USCG MH-65 Dolphin
• 5:16 p.m. – USAF “Wings of Blue” Parachute Team
• 5:36 p.m. – Clipped-Wing TaylorCraft (Nick Coleman, Bowman Field, Louisville KY)
• 5:44 p.m. – Navy E-2C Hawkeye Two Ship (VAW-120, Norfolk NAS, Norfolk VASN)
• 5:47 p.m. – Britt Lincoln Extra 300 (MT) 
• 5:55 p.m. – BREAK
• 6:01 p.m. – USAF B-52 (307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, LA)
• 6:16 p.m. – Wild Blue RV-8 Aerobatics (Day Show)
• 6:24 p.m. – Yak 52 (Bowman Field, Louisville KY)
• 6:32 p.m. – USAF F-16 Viper DEMO (20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, SC)
• 6:52 p.m. – USAF Heritage Flight
• 7:02 p.m. – BREAK

RELATED: Road, bridge closures for Thunder Over Louisville; What drivers should know

• 7:08 p.m. – USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” (924th Fighter Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ) 7:16 PM – USAF C-17 (445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH)
• 7:22 p.m. – A-400M Atlas (Lufttransportgeschwader (Air Transport Group) 62, Wunstorf AB, Hannover, Germany)
• 7:30 p.m. – USAF T-1A Jayhawk (14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, MS)
• 7:33 p.m.  – BREAK
• 7:39 p.m. – “Mister Mulligan” Howard DGA-6 (Mason City, IA)
• 7:47 p.m. – USMC UH-1Y and AH-1Z Helicopters (Squadron 773, Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ)
• 7:59 p.m. – SMOKE ON! Aviation (Louisville, KY)
• 8:07 p.m. – Jeff Gordon Carbon Cub Float Plane (Bowman Field)
• 8:52 p.m. – Sunset
• 8:52 p.m. – Wild Blue RV-8 Aerobatics (Night Show)
• 9:00 p.m. – Magic by Moonlight, Twin Beech Aerobatics Demo (Matt Younkin Airshows)
• 9:08 p.m.  – Meijer Moment (Thunder Fans Help Light Up the Waterfront)
• 9:12 p.m. – Drone Show Powered by LG&E
• 9:27 p.m. – System Check: Clear Airspace
• 9:30 p.m. – Boom! Fireworks!

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