Best Places to See Thunder Over Louisville 2022
You can see the most recent Where to Watch Thunder Over Louisville in 2023 here!
Table of Contents
Viewing Parties
Kentucky Derby Festival VIP Rooftop Party – Waterside Parking Garage | 201 N. Brook Street
This official VIP rooftop party is hosted by Thunder Over Louisville and the Kentucky Derby Festival itself, and helps to fund the annual firework show. Not only does this viewing party offer one-of-a-kind views and beverages, your ticket also includes a parking pass and restroom access. Don’t overlook those last two amenities on one of Louisville’s busiest days during an all-day festival.
Thunder Blast – Kentucky Science Center | 727 W. Main Street
The next good location to watch Thunder Over Louisville fireworks and air show is from the Kentucky Science Center. An advantage to this viewing party is the museum itself, which provides great cover if you’re simply trying to get out of the elements briefly for this all-day event. ThunderBlast is actually their largest annual family-friendly event. Incorporating food trucks and hands-on activities in the covered outdoor space, there is something for everyone. The VIP package includes access to access to a seating area to watch the day’s events, plus food and drink vouchers, in addition to the museum’s standard exhibits.
Fireworks and Flyovers Louisville – Joe’s Crab Shack | 131 River Road
Joe’s Crab Shack on River Road offers another venue with front row views, literally. This waterfront location will put right in the action and also kept you fed hydrated through the day! They will be offering a Prix Fixe menu for the event. This “fixed price” menu features a pre-selected list of dishes at a set price, including seafood options with crabs to shrimp samplers and desserts to share amongst family and friends.
Thunder Over Louisville Dockside – Belle of Louisville | 401 W. River Road
The historic Belle of Louisville has been a part of Kentucky Derby Festival traditions for decades, and it’s showing no signs of throwing in the towel anytime soon. Here you can watch Thunder Over Louisville aboard the riverboat, right on the water albeit dockside. Tickets include exclusive admission to the steamboat throughout the day with access to food and beverages.
Thunder at the Center – Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts | 501 W. Main Street
The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts is another place where you can view Thunder Over Louisville. Three levels are available to get the perfect view to watch the airshow and fireworks. In addition, if you bring your Pegasus Pin you can also gain access to theKentucky Derby Festival’s Meijer Family Fun zone that is also located on the Belvedere Lawn.
Thunder at Lynn Family Stadium | 350 Adams Street
The next Thunder viewing party is hosted at Lynn Family Stadium. This is the home of the Louisville City FC and the Racing FC soccer clubs, and the eventThunder at Lynn Family Stadium is the inaugural celebration for the venue. The stadium offers views the of the Louisville skyline, ideal for the air show and fireworks. Tickets will include access to parking, and food vendors will also be available throughout the venue. Soccer fans will be pleased to know that during the events, the broadcast of Louisville City FC’s away game against the Charleston Battery will be live on the video boards across the stadium.
Fun-Der – KFC Yum! Center | 1 Arena Plaza
Fun-Der at the KFC Yum! Center is another viewing party on the top floor of the venue, known as the Spirit Room. This waterfront location offers an indoor panoramic view of the fireworks and air show. Your tickets will also include an afternoon snack, a delicious dinner, and mostly importantly, a dessert buffet. This party is a family-friendly event, including activities from a magician, balloon artist, face painter, photo booth, and a DJ. You can leave and re-enter the arena throughout the day-long event, which is a huge bonus for some folks.
Thunder at Slugger – Louisville Bats & Louisville Slugger Field | 401 E. Main Street
As more local sport teams and arenas get in on the action this year, Louisville Slugger Field checks all of the boxes. If an air show, fireworks, baseball game, and live concert sound like your idea of fun, then this party will surely make you light up! Cheer on the Louisville Bats in a home game against the Iowa Cubs mid-airshow. After the game, a free live concert will take place just before the fireworks show begins.
Booms & Blooms – Waterfront Botanical Gardens | 1435 Frankfort Avenue
If you are a member of Waterfront Botanical Gardens, then Booms & Blooms could be the event for you? This viewing party invites its members for aone-of-a-kind Thunder Over Louisville experience. This kicks off Derby season events, right in an elevated location in the Gardens. Tickets includes 2 drink tickets, for alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. In addition, food from Morris Deli & Catering, movies, activities, live music, covered seating, and complimentary parking will also be included with your admission.
Thunder Rolls! Rooftop Thunder Viewing Party– Copper & Kings | 1121 E. Washington Street
Copper & Kings Distillery in Butchertown plays host to the Thunder Rolls! Rooftop Thunder Viewing Party. This is an exclusive and intimate place where you can watch Thunder Over Louisville fromRooftop Bar & Restaurant. Tickets for this viewing party include a welcoming cocktail,passed hors d’oeuvres by Chef Josh Lehman, and access to private cellar picks by Master Distiller, Brandon O’Daniel. Ticket sales at this venue are capped to provide more of an intimate experience during this wildly busy day in Derby City. If crafted cocktails, delicious eats, and private barrel picks are more your style, then this is the place for you.
Thunder Over Louisville Riverboat Dinner Cruise | Louisville Waterfront
The Thunder Over Louisville Riverboat Dinner Cruise is the last venue featured on our list highlighting viewing Thunder Over Louisville locations. Here you can enjoy the show, but miss the crowds on board a charteredriverboat from a specialvantage point on the Ohio River. This evening begins with a a fun cruise up and down the Ohio River for a couple of hours before the boat is anchored in downtown Louisville to view theFireworks Extravaganza. There guests will be able to viewthe greatest fireworks display in North America from the top deck of the riverboat. This Thunder package includes the cruise of course, ahot buffet dinner with dessert, unlimited soft drinks, and transportation via Jefferson Tours and Charters motorcoach to and from the riverboat.
Parks
Waterfront Park & Louisville Riverwalk
- North Great Lawn
- Chow Wagon area
- Big 4 Lawn
- Meijer Family Fun Zone (Free admission with a 2022 Pegasus Pin)
Eva Bandman Park
Louisville Watertower Park
Carrie Gaulbert Cox Park
Southern Indiana Side Viewing Locations (Jeffersonville)
If you’re on the Southern Indiana side of the river in Jeffersonville, there’s several locations along the northern side that have Thunder parties planned. Highlighted below are several of those Indiana Thunder Over Louisville parties.
- Kingfish Restaurant/On the Rocks Bar
- Upland Brewing Company-Jeffersonville
- Clucker’s-Jeffersonville
- Union Restaurant & Gameyard
- Harry’s Taphouse & Kitchen
There are also several public locations along the Jeffersonville riverfront that are accessible.
- Jeffersonville Riverfront
- Van Dyke Park
- Ashland Park
- Riverstage Park
- Fisherman’s Wharf
- Ohio River Greenway
Maps, Parking, and Official Info
The websites below will provide more helpful Thunder tips, such as parking locations and official maps to make your Thunder Over Louisville plans as easy and enjoyable as possible.
- Thunder Over Louisville Website (official schedules, participants)
- Thunder Day Information (parking options, what is allowed/ what to leave at home, etc.)
- Thunder Map (to navigate to your perfect viewing location)
FAQs
Can I watch Thunder Over Louisville online?
How to livestream Thunder Over Louisville. If you’re in another area of Kentucky and can’t make it in-person, you can still enjoy the live show via WLKY Online Coverage Here. You can also watch online via WLKY Mobile andVery Local on Roku and Amazon Fire.
Where can I watch Thunder Over Louisville tonight?
You can watch Thunder Over Louisville on air via Channel 32,WLKY Online Coverage, andVery Local on Roku and Amazon Fire.
ON AIR: Watch on Channel 32
ONLINE: In the player above
STREAMING: Very Local
How do I watch Thunder Over Louisville 2021?
You can watch Thunder’s fireworks and airshow on air, online, streaming, and of course in-person.
Where are the Thunder Over Louisville locations?
You can see an overview of the locations via the Thunder Map.
Is Thunder Over Louisville televised?
You can watch Thunder Over Louisville televisedon air via Channel 32.
Be sure to follow our Instagram and ‘Like’ our Facebook page to get all of the latest Kentucky Shirt releases, new gear and other fun stuff.
