The Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green is proud to announce the return of the annual Hayward Minton Thunderfest Fireworks Show and Music Festival, taking place on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Ephram White Park. This family-friendly event has been a beloved tradition for over five decades, drawing thousands from across South Central Kentucky. For the first time, the event is named after a Kiwanian with more than 60 years of perfect attendance, Hayward Minton. Hayward is a 103-year-old World War II Vet and he served as the first Thunderfest Chair in 1972. The Bowling Green Kiwanis Club is proud to name this event in his honor.
Gates will open at 3:00pm, and admission will be $25 per carload. Please note: No coolers are allowed.
The event features a full evening of activities for all ages, including:
•A variety of food trucks
•Live entertainment from local and regional acts
•Unique non-food vendors
•A FREE Kids Zone with games and activities
•And, of course, the area’s most spectacular fireworks show after dark
This year’s music headliner is Rowdy Shea, a former attendee of South Warren High School and contestant on NBC’s The Voice, who is known for high-energy performances that blend Southern rock and country roots.
For 54 years, the Kiwanis Club has proudly hosted Thunderfest, with 100% of proceeds benefiting local nonprofits and youth organizations. In 2024, the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club gave away more than $71,000 in support of 30+ local organizations serving children and families in the region.
“Thunderfest is a celebration that brings families together and supports the work Kiwanis does year-round for local children,” says Jennifer Bailey, 2025 Thunderfest Chair. “We’re proud to keep the tradition going.”
In the event of rain, the festival will be rescheduled for Sunday, June 29.
For more information, visit:
www.bgkiwanis.org/Thunderfest
Follow BG Thunderfest on Facebook
Email: bgthunderfest@gmail.com
Our club has been continuously active since it was chartered on July 24, 1923, and currently consists of over 100 members. We’re known for our support of and service to many local community and children’s organizations. Our weekly meetings feature entertaining and informative programs, fellowship, and fun – all of which are important to members of Kiwanis. In Bowling Green, Kiwanis is responsible for two major community, family, and youth-oriented projects. Thunderfest is our annual Independence Day celebration, going strong since 1972. In 1998, Kiwanis also hosted the first All-American Soap Box Derby, which has become an annual tradition and has led to several rally races each year in Bowling Green. These community events have helped provide incredible financial assistance to children’s programs, thanks to the appreciated support of local businesses and community leaders.
Kiwanis International is proud to have local clubs in 80 nations, staging nearly 150,000 service projects and raising almost $100 million to end maternal and neonatal tetanus worldwide through The Eliminate Project, a partnership with UNICEF. More information is available online at www.kiwanis.org.
-submitted by Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green
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