February 9, 2016 Louisville, KY. – Six companies are returning to sponsor this year’s Thunder Over Louisville – the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies. Derby Festival made the announcement at their headquarters this morning. Horseshoe Southern Indiana, KentuckyOne Health, LG&E, Meijer, UPS and Valero are all Presenting Sponsors of the 2016 Thunder Over Louisville fireworks and air show to be held on Saturday, April 23, along the banks of the Ohio River in downtown. In addition to the six presenting sponsors, Ford Motor Company returns as sponsor of Ford’s Thunder on the Ground.
“Without the support of these generous sponsors, we simply wouldn’t be able to produce the Thunder show the public has come to expect and anticipate,” said Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. “Their sponsorship really is a gift to the entire community.”
This is the 26th consecutive year that UPS has been a presenting sponsor of Thunder Over Louisville. Horseshoe Southern Indiana has been a Thunder presenting sponsor for 17 consecutive years; LG&E and Meijer have both been Thunder sponsors for the past ten years in a row; this is the fourth year for KentuckyOne Health and third year for Valero.
For the fifth year in a row, Ford is title sponsor of the Thunder on the Ground attraction, which showcases a wide variety of activities taking place during the day in and around Waterfront Park on April 23.
This year’s Thunder theme – “No Strings Attached” – is a turn of phrase referring to Thunder’s spectacular air show and fireworks, which soar in the sky on Thunder Day. It’s also a nod to the soundtrack recorded by the Louisville Orchestra under Teddy Abrams direction. Over 40 well-known works by composers like Holst, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Mozart were recorded for the soundtrack. Songs from My Morning Jacket, Katy Perry, Michael Jackson, and Metallica were also included in the repertoire.
The Festival is planning for another packed air show in 2016. The show will feature the U.S. Navy Parachute Team – The Leap Frogs, as well as the Trojan Horsemen T-28 Demo Team, Billy Werth and Kate Kyer. Details regarding other air acts that will perform in the 2016 Thunder Air Show are still being finalized. A complete show schedule will be released closer to the show date.
Thunder Over Louisville’s 2016 Official Broadcast Partners are WDRB TV and SummitMedia’s 106.9 PLAY.
Thunder Over Louisville – the Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies – is one of nearly 70 events produced by the Derby Festival in the spring. The 2016 Thunder Over Louisville, themed “No Strings Attached,” is set for Saturday, April 23, and will be the will be the 27th annual production.
