Thunder Over Louisville canceled due to historic flooding

The opening ceremonies of the Kentucky Derby Festival have been canceled, Thunder Over Louisville no longer taking place next weekend due to historic flooding in the area. With hundreds of thousands of people watching the fireworks show each year, the officials decided the flood levels will make the event impossible in 2025.

Thunder Over Louisville was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 12 — exactly one week from today.

“This weather event and flooding is like nothing we’ve faced before – especially this close to Thunder,” Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO, said. “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.”

The Thunder venue, according to event officials, will be underwater and levels will not recede in time to allow for preparations while creating a safety risk for those involved. Due to logistics at the local, state and federal levels, the event will not be postponed or rescheduled for another date.

It’s just the second time in history Thunder has been canceled, joining 2020 during the pandemic.

As of today, Thunder is the only Kentucky Derby Festival event canceled.

“Our mission is to bring the community together in celebration and that is still our plan,” Gibson said.

Thunder Over Louisville produces an economic impact of $126 million in the area — and that’s not even counting the rest of the Derby Festival, especially the Kentucky Derby. That will be held at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3.

Quite the buzzkill right when the worldwide spotlight turns toward Kentucky over the next couple of weeks.

For a list of all of the other Derby Festival events coming ahead of the first Saturday in May for the most exciting two minutes in sports, click here.