SUCCESSFUL THUNDER KICKS OFF 2003 FESTIVAL
2003-04-14T12:57:31
THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE A BOOMING SUCCESS
The Kentucky Derby Festival kicked off its three-week celebration with another highly successful Opening Ceremonies. Thunder Over Louisville, the Festival’s public start, attracted hundreds of thousands to the waterfront on Saturday, April 12, to watch the six and ½ hour Air Show and the country’s largest annual fireworks display. Four presenting sponsors staged this year’s event themed “Centennial of Flight”. Caesars, Ford, UPS and Yum! Brands funded the majority of the day’s free entertainment with support from other businesses and individuals in the Thunder Funder program.
Under ideal weather conditions, those in attendance enjoyed the show, with minimal problems reported. Louisville Metro Police spokeswoman Helene Kramer said there were few arrests and 40 lost children were all reunited with their families by 12:25 a.m. The Festival’s VP of Communications, Stacey Yates said it was one of the thickest crowds she had seen and gave a “guestimate” of 750,000 people. “We have know way of knowing an actual count, but everyone seems to want someone to pin down a figure. So after talking with police, we give it our best guess,” said Yates. That includes those on boats, nearby parks and downtown office buildings that were watching the show. Said Matt Gibson, KDF’s VP of Events, “It was the first time in years we’ve had such ideal weather and more real estate for folks to view from,” referring to the finished areas of Waterfront Park and the Belvedere.
“Everything went very smoothly,” said Mike Berry, Derby Festival President and CEO. “The Louisville Metro Police did an outstanding job with security, crowd control and traffic. Getting three-quarters of a million people in and out of the venue is a monumental task which requires patience and extensive planning. Some traffic tie-ups were reported, but those are inevitable when so many people are trying to leave at the same time. It was another spectacular day of free entertainment for the community and thousands of out-of-town visitors.”
This year’s Thunder included some special features, including an official opening act – a Thunder first. A color guard representing the five branches of the U.S. military – Coast Guard, Navy, Marines, Army and Air Force – performed an opening number. Lt. Bob Geary of the Kentucky Air National Guard entertained the audience with musical renditions of the military’s theme songs such as “Anchors Away” and “The Halls of Montezuma.” The opening culminated with the singing of the national anthem as an 18-gun salute was fired and a massive American flag was towed along the riverfront, escorted by a Lima Lima aircraft trailing smoke behind it. Later in the show, the U.S. Navy performed a special demonstration with four Mark V Special Ops. Craft. The 82-foot gunships were joined by AH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters from the U.S. Army. This was a first for naval participation on the water.
Saluting the 100th anniversary of powered-flight, the air show included more military acts than originally anticipated due to overseas deployments. Demo teams of F-15’s and F-18’s were popular with air show spectators as well as performances of civilian acts. A new wing-walking act joined perennial favorites. Bill Left and Lima Lima performed both daytime acts and returned for sunset performances complete with fireworks off the back of their aircraft. The Red Barron Squadron and Red Bull MiG Jet delighted fans that had set up camp on both sides of the river.
The day ended with another brilliant fireworks display. The crowd delighted to the Thunder signature – a two-mile cascade of fireworks waterfall off the Second Street Bridge. Other highlights of the pyrotechnics included a segment of “curly-cue” pink and white shells, parachute streamers and a “rainbow effect” on the bridge to the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.
“It was a long day, but it was well worth it,” said Doug Hamilton, 2003 Derby Festival Chairman. “Once again, our sponsors enabled us to put on one of the most exciting and well-attended events in the world. This may have been the best-ever Thunder Over Louisville.”
Thunder Over Louisville – the Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies – is one of the more than seventy events produced by the Derby Festival in the spring. The Derby Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 325 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people in a two- week period and has a local economic impact of more than $93 million. Thunder alone contributes $31 million of that estimate to both sides of the Ohio River. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
Link to Courier-Journal coverage of the event and Thunder Photo Gallery.
