74°F11:25 PM You can rail against the Kentucky Derby until your face is bluer than bluegrass – call it decadent, depraved, or possibly even overrated – but there’s no denying: the enormity of this event is impossible to escape. The race itself has hardly changed at all through the years, barring a widening of the playing field, but the fanfare surrounding it has expanded rapidly even over the last two decades.
On Saturday, April 21, the “opening ceremony” of the 57th Annual Derby Festival will see more than 500,000 spectators from Louisville and far beyond turn their eyes to the skies over the Ohio River for the largest recurring pyrotechnic display in the nation. Thunder over Louisville is one of the most beloved pastimes for native Louisvillians, but because of its enormous popularity, finding a place and means for experiencing the spectacle can be something of a headache.
Verizon Wireless (VZW) officially entered the 4G market in December 2010, launching in 38 markets with their 4G LTE network that touts speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G. Most recently, those that have 4G enabled devices may have noticed the rollout in downtown Louisville for Thunder Over Louisville and future plans for Derby day 4G LTE coverage.
This article appears in the March 2011 issue of LouisvilleMagazine. To subscribe, please visit loumag.com.
As told by 63-year-old Dave Evans . . .
We drop each firework shell individually into a pipe. Then you hook an electronic igniter to it. We’re talking more than 10,000 shells on six barges. We leave a four-foot-wide area on each barge that you can actually walk through. Other than that, it’s pipes filled with shells.
It's Thunder eve and you're probably getting ready for the big day. Thunder Over Louisville has become the nation's largest annual fireworks event. Hundreds of thousands of locals and folks from out of town make plans to attend the show.
Free Events at KFC Yum! Center Celebrate Thunder Over Louisville
Join the KFC Yum! Center for two free admission events on Saturday, April 16 at the KFC Yum! Center to celebrate Thunder Over Louisville, the nation’s largest annual fireworks show that is the official opening ceremonies for the fun-filled Derby Festival.
There are several Kentucky Derby Festival activities this weekend in addition to the festival’s Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville.
They include:
Saturday, April 16-Sunday, May 1
DERBY FESTIVAL VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC
Contributing Sponsor: 98.9 Radio Now, ASICS, Hyatt Regency Louisville and Mikasa.
The New Lite 106.9 (WVEZ-FM), home of the Official Radio Broadcast for Thunder Over Louisville 2011, has announced that in honor of the Derby Festival theme of SUPERFEST – meant to highlight “those cartoon, movie and comic book heroes we all know, as well as our hometown heroes from the Festival volunteers to police, fire and EMS workers,” according to the Festival – this Saturday’s broadcast will feature some special guest hosts.
Members of the Louisville Metro Poli
Want some theater with your Thunder? Wanting to avoid Thunder Over Louisville altogether? Not a problem, as there are three shows taking place this Saturday in and outside of Louisville.
TARC is adding buses on regular routes for Thunder Over Louisville Saturday, with boarding after the event limited to five staging areas blocks from the waterfront, a repeat of service that worked well for last year's Thunder.
About 10,000 passengers are expected to choose TARC and avoid parking hassles for the annual fireworks event on the river this year.
Buses will be added to 15 routes starting at about 3:30 p.m., adding capacity and resulting in more frequent bus arrival times at stops.