Thunder Over Louisville Cancelled Due To Flooding

Due to the recent heavy rain fall and historic flooding along the Waterfront, officials have canceled this year’s Thunder Over Louisville celebrations.

Officials with the Kentucky Derby Festival made the announcement on Saturday, as the celebration was set to take place on April 12.

A recent weather system has impacted the south and Midwest which will cause moderate flood levels heading in to this week. The Thunder venue and areas where people commonly watch the airshow and fireworks would be underwater. Kentucky Derby Festival officials said the water would not recede in time to allow preparations for Thunder and would be a safety risk for all involved.

Flood waters would also create challenges for the show’s production as rising water would prevent crews from accessing the barges to install fireworks and keep the barges from being moved and placed in their traditional spots on either side of the Clark Memorial Bridge for the show.

Plus, the height and speed of the river won’t allow the festival to have a center marker which is critical to have an airshow.

The location needed for staging the drone show will also be inaccessible.

Officials say since Thunder is a large-scale event and massive logical undertaking at the local, state and federal levels, that it will not be able to be postponed or set for another date.

Thunder Over Louisville was canceled one other time in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kentucky Derby Festival officials said they will provide information to those who purchased Thunder Over Louisville VIP Rooftop Party tickets soon.

They do want everyone to know that they will have more than 70 events planned leading up to the first Saturday in May, including Friday’s “They’re Off” luncheon.

Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO, said their mission is to bring the community together in celebration and that is still the plan.
Source: WHAS11