SIX SPONSORS TEAM UP TO SUPPORT 2025 SHOW
March 3, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Just 39 days and counting until one of the country’s top fireworks displays, air shows and drone shows sets the Louisville skyline aglow! Thunder Over Louisville is set for Saturday, April 12 on the Waterfront. Festival officials released details about the show this morning, including unveiling the 2025 theme – “Happy Thunder: It’s Glow Time!” UA Local 502 makes its debut as the sixth Presenting Sponsor for this year’s show, joining Caesars Southern Indiana, Humana, LG&E, Meijer and UPS, who return again for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies.
This year’s theme is inspired by the excitement invoked by the show for more than three decades. It has become an annual rite of spring that unites the community along the banks of the Ohio River. Thunder goers can expect high spirits, bright colors and neon glows from the ground to the sky during the day-long event. 2025 marks the 36th production of Thunder Over Louisville.
“We’re ‘glowing’ all out for this year’s Thunder Over Louisville and invite Festival fans to help us illuminate the Waterfront as we kick off the Derby season festivities,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO. “From the air show to the drones and fireworks, this one-of-a-kind event is possible because of our generous sponsors and partners. We know it’s going to be a ‘Happy Thunder!’”
This marks the inaugural year that UA Local 502 is a Presenting Sponsor of Thunder. The group has been part of the Louisville community for more than 100 years and helps build and maintain systems that keep the city running. Before stepping into the Presenting Sponsor role this year, they’ve been a Derby Festival sponsor since 2024, providing transportation for on-the-ground staff at Thunder, which they will also do again at this year’s event.
This is the 35th consecutive year that UPS has been a Presenting Sponsor of Thunder Over Louisville. Their UPS Flight Deck viewing area returns to the Overlook at Waterfront Park for this year’s show.
Caesars, who has been a partner of the Kentucky Derby Festival since opening in Southern Indiana, is back for the 26th straight year as a Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 show.
LG&E returns for the 19th year as a Presenting Sponsor. In addition to being a sponsor of Thunder, they sponsor the Festival’s Go Green Program, supporting efforts to maintain a clean and sustainable environment.
Also, in their 19th year as a Presenting Sponsor is Meijer. The Meijer Family Fun Zone returns to its location at the Big Four Bridge Lawn and offers a prime viewing space filled with family activities.
This is Humana’s fourth year as a Presenting Sponsor, and as part of their partnership to make the Derby Festival accessible to the entire community, they will sponsor a Thunder Over Louisville Fare-Free Day through TARC. More information on the Fare-Free Day will be released in the coming weeks.
The Festival is planning another packed air show featuring both military and civilian aircraft. One of the main highlights is the U.S. Air Force F-35 Demo. Guests can also expect flybys by multiple fighters, including the F-15, F-16 and F/A-18. The Royal Canadian Air Force is scheduled to make an appearance with their C/F-18 fighters. A special tactics demonstration featuring integration with the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade (Kentucky Army National Guard) and 123rd Special Tactics Squadron (Kentucky Air National Guard) is also planned for the 2025 show. Other highlights include: parachute demonstrations, large aircraft flybys, including the C-5M Galaxy, C-17, KC-135 and C-130Js, as well as Matt Younkin Airshows Twin Beech Aerobatics Demo, Britt Lincoln Extra 300 (MT), SMOKE ON! Aviation, and the Titan Aerobatic Team. Additional details about the 2025 Thunder Air Show will be released closer to the show date.
The fifth annual Drone Show is another highlight of the 2025 show and will light up the nighttime sky as they fly over the Ohio River in different formations just before the fireworks begin.
Thunder’s fireworks show is choreographed to an original soundtrack each year and Zambelli Fireworks will design the show again in 2025. On Thunder Day, the FoodFest and Thunder On the Ground open at 11 a.m., the Air Show starts at 3 p.m., the Drone & Night Show is at 9 p.m., and Fireworks blast off at 9:30 p.m.
“As always, the soundtrack is built from hundreds of music selections, including current tunes and hits to excite our younger fans,” said Wayne Hettinger, Producer of Thunder Over Louisville. “With those selections, we arrange them into a seamless 30-minute score with highs and lows, touching on everyone’s emotions while producing a roller coaster tempo for explosive visual effects. Buckle up and hold on tight, you’re in for an electrifying ride!”
For fans looking for a front-row seat to the show, tickets are on sale now for the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Thunder Over Louisville VIP Rooftop Party Presented by Kentucky Proud. Tickets are $225 per person and can be purchased at ThunderOverLouisville.org. Admission includes premium viewing, Kentucky Proud cuisine, local and regional beers, specialty cocktails, private restrooms and more.
In addition to the Presenting Sponsors, 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.
Thunder Over Louisville is one of the more than 70 events produced by the Derby Festival in the spring. It provides an estimated impact of $56 million to the area’s economy. The Derby Festival is an independent community organization. It entertains more than 1.5 million people annually every spring and is one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
