Thunderfest sees growth in first year at new location

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Thunderfest keeps getting bigger.

This year the Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green changed the long-time location of the fireworks event from the National Corvette Museum’s amphitheater to Ephram White Park. The move allows more vendors and food trucks.

The new location also allows the fireworks to be set off closer to the crowds.

“100% of the money raised tonight is going back into local charities in South Central Kentucky. And then I would say that it’s a community-wide event. So even if you don’t like the fireworks, we hope that you’re going to come out and support these local small businesses, and the local food vendors. You’re going to hear local entertainment, as well as entertainment that we brought in from Nashville,” said Thunderfest co-chair Whitney Kinslow.

The 53rd annual Thunderfest is expected to bring in $40,000 for local charities devoted to kids and families. Organizers estimate between 5,000 and 6,000 spectators attended the event.

Three thousand rounds of fireworks capped off the evening.