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Thunder Over Louisville is one of the largest fireworks displays in the United States. An annual event every May, it features dozens of military aircraft, from the Comanche attack helicopter and the Stealth bomber to WWI bi-planes and a privately-owned MiG-17. The Kentucky Air National Guard opens up their base, located adjacent to Louisville International, and has a massive airshow, with almost every type of aircraft imaginable, from UPS 747's to the F-117A. If you live anywhere near Louisville, it is well worth the effort to watch. But if you do come, I recommend viewing the fireworks display from the Indiana side of the Ohio River, since the crowds in Louisville are horrendous.

Thunder over Louisville is a huge fireworks show that is held in April on the Saturday two weeks before Derby Day. (The Kentucky Derby is always run on the first Saturday in May.) An air show is held during the afternoon. The fireworks start after dark and last for a full 30 minutes. Most years, it is the largest fireworks display in the country.

I have seen the B-2 at this air show, and it is most impressive. They are higher than 50 feet off the river (after all, they have to clear the bridge towers), but they are pretty low and you can see them quite well. The most impressive thing about the B-2, at least to me, is how ghostly quiet they are. If you aren't paying attention, you can easily miss it. Not so with the B-1.

And I agree that it is best to go over to the Indiana side of the river. It's a little less crowded and the crowd is less rowdy: more families with kids, fewer drunks.