September 1, 2015 Louisville, KY. Top honors today for Thunder Over Louisville, the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies. The annual air show and fireworks spectacular has made the 2015 list for the “Top 100 Events in the United States.” The list is put together by BizBash – the leading trade media for event and meeting organizers and event marketers.
“The Top 100 lists are not about excess or one-hit wonders. They are about influence, the power to build movements, form communities, and create cultural touch points for those that attend as well as those that don’t,” says Anna Sekula, BizBash editor in chief. “Thunder Over Louisville illustrates why bringing people together at a live experience still matters, even in an age dominated by digital interaction.”
BizBash spent the past year evaluating events around the country, seeking the most prominent and powerful events produced. Thunder made the list in the category of Top Festivals, Parades and Holiday Events, alongside other events including Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New Year’s Eve in Times Square, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, and Mardi Gras. The Top 100 Events in the United States article is featured on the BizBash website at www.bizbash.com/top-100. (Click here for the direct link to the mention of Thunder Over Louisville.)
“It’s an honor to be recognized among our peers in the event industry,” said Mike Berry, KDF President and CEO. “This really is a reflection of all the tremendous support we receive from our sponsors, board members, volunteers, and the community.”
Thunder Over Louisville is one of nearly 70 events produced by the Derby Festival in the spring. While the estimated economic impact of the Festival is $127.9 million, Thunder has the largest economic impact for any single KDF event with an estimated $56.6 impact for the local economy each year. The 2015 show, themed “Boom with a View,” was the 26th edition and featured the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds and U.S. Army Golden Knights. The 2016 Thunder Over Louisville show is scheduled for Saturday, April 23, 2016.
ABOUT KDF:
Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
ABOUT BIZBASH:
BizBash is North America’s #1 event marketplace for content ideas, news, and industry resources. Each month more than 200,000 unique users look to BizBash for venue discovery, event style, and tools for their next event. Visit us at www.bizbash.com; follow us at @BizBash on Twitter, or www.facebook.com/bizbash. CONTACT: Brittany Bucceroni, 646.839.6896 or bbucceroni@bizbash.com.
