April 5, 2025. Louisville, KY. – As Louisville faces historic flooding, the Kentucky Derby Festival is facing the difficult decision to cancel its Opening Ceremonies – Thunder Over Louisville. The show was set for one week from today on Saturday, April 12. At the expected flood levels that will be reached in the coming days, production of the signature spring event that draws hundreds of thousands to the Louisville Waterfront every year will not be possible.
“This weather event and flooding is like nothing we’ve faced before – especially this close to Thunder,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO. “While we’d love to bring everyone together on Saturday to watch one of the best air shows and fireworks shows in the country – we know it’s not logistically possible and would not be safe to do so.”
By mid-week Louisville’s riverfront will be impacted by the stalled weather system that has moved across the south and Midwest. As a result, the Thunder venue will be under water, including the prime viewing areas in Waterfront Park. The water will not recede in time to allow for preparations for Saturday’s event and would be a safety risk for all involved.
The flood waters create multiple challenges for the production of the show. Rising water will prevent crews from accessing the barges to install the fireworks and keep the barges from being moved and placed in their traditional spots on either side of the bridge for the show. The height and speed of the river will not allow the Festival to have a center marker, which is critical to have an air show. The location needed for staging the drone show will also be inaccessible.
Thunder is such a large-scale event and massive logistical undertaking involving partners at local, state and federal levels, that it’s not able to be postponed or rescheduled for another date. This is only the second time in the event’s history that Thunder has been cancelled. It was cancelled in 2020 during the pandemic. 2025 would have been the 36th annual Thunder production.
Said Gibson, “I want to emphasize, the Kentucky Derby Festival is not cancelled. We still have a full schedule of more than 70 events planned leading up to the first Saturday in May, including Friday’s They’re Off! Luncheon. Our mission is to bring the community together in celebration and that is still our plan.”
Updated information for those who purchased tickets to the Festival’s Thunder Over Louisville VIP Rooftop Party will be forthcoming. If there are any changes for any other events, the Festival will share those in the coming weeks.
2025 Presenting Sponsors of Thunder: Caesars Southern Indiana, Humana, LG&E, Meijer, UA Local 502 and UPS. UofL Health is the Official Health Care Provider, The Galt House Hotel is the Official Hotel, Four Roses Bourbon is the Official Bourbon, and Lynn Family Stadium is the Official Tailgate Sponsor. Thunder Over Louisville’s 2025 Official Broadcast Partners are WHAS 11 and MIX 106.9.
