SoKY’s Choice: Community celebrates history, friendship and fireworks at Hayward Minton Thunderfest

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The music was loud, the lemonade cold, and the inflatables bouncing, all signs that Thunderfest had returned to south-central Kentucky. But this year, the 54th annual, the celebration came with a new name and a deeper sense of pride.

Earlier this year, the annual festival was renamed The Hayward Minton Thunderfest in honor of 103-year-old World War II veteran Hayward Minton. Minton, a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club, the organization behind the event, served as the very first chair of Thunderfest more than 50 years ago.

On Saturday night, as fireworks soared overhead, Minton was honored by Jim Keown, a local veteran advocate who carries American flags on long walks across Kentucky. One of those flags, carried for more than 200 miles, was presented to Minton as a gesture of gratitude and legacy. Keown is the founder of “Flags For Vets,” a program that donates flags to veterans across the country.

Keown also took the stage for something personal, proposing to his longtime girlfriend in front of the crowd, adding a moment of surprise and celebration to an already exciting evening.

For many attendees, the night was about more than fireworks. “I kind of want to do some of the jumpy houses,” said Mason, attending the event with his family. “Because you can, like, jump on them. You can… go down slides and different things.”

Another young festivalgoer kept his priorities simple: “I like the fireworks. I like inflatables. Because you get the drop and slide down and everything. It’s so fun.”

Vendors, sponsors, and organizers echoed the community spirit.

“This is one of the events that’s really important to us,” said Alyssa, a representative of Meijer, a sponsor for 13 years. “The community coming together. which there’s nothing better than that.”

A vendor at the event summed up the mood, saying, “Even though there’s a little bit of rain, not gonna keep this wonderful community from coming out… enjoy some great music and enjoy… awesome, awesome, awesome firework show.”

And for some, like two young boys named Tuff and Corbin, the night wasn’t just about music or fireworks, it was about new friendships.

“I just like listening to the band,” said Corbin. “This is my new best friend,” Tuff added, the two having met that evening. “My favorite color is cool blue.” Tuff nodded. “Same.”

The fireworks eventually faded, but the echoes of Thunderfest, and the moments made there, are likely to stick around long after the smoke clears.

For more information on Thunderfest or any other events Kiwanis hosts, visit kiwanisbgky.org.