Fireworks are one of man's greatest inventions. This picture sets the scene for the Thunder Over Louisville fireworks show. It is the opening celebration for the Kentucky Derby Festival. Usually on the third weekend of April this annual show outdoes itself every year. It has been the largest fireworks show in North America for the last ten years. Last year's included over 60 tons of shells, dozens of Howitzer cannons from Fort Knox, and over 100 searchlights. It is the mother of all pyrotechnic events.

Click here to learn more from the official site.

This is a video of the last 15 seconds of the Thunder finale, followed by the cheers of 400,000 people. Keep in mind that what you are looking at is the same mile-long bridge you see in the picture above, and the cluster coming from the barge on the right is taller than the picture covers, and has a duplicate on the other side of the bridge off camera (so what you're seeing is barely half of the panoramic display). It's what the military would call "A Significant Emotional Event." If you listen closely near the end you can hear the involuntary whimper of the cameraman (me). Words cannot explain and pictures do no justice.

Click here to learn more from the official site.