LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The cancellation of Thunder Over Louisville cost the city of Louisville millions of dollars in economic impact.

The Kentucky Derby Festival kickoff event was canceled because of severe flooding at the waterfront.

Since Thunder over Louisville first began in 1991, this is only the second time the iconic event has been canceled.

“Lot less business, but can’t control the weather, so it’s an acceptable outcome,” said Chris Speakman, general manager of Nulu’s Feast BBQ.

Saturday would’ve been the 36th annual production of Thunder. 600,000 people were expected in attendance. Many would walk through Market Street in Nulu.

“Like all day long, busy from open to close. Hundreds of thousands of people and within a two-mile radius. So, tons and tons and tons of people,” the general manager said.

The event typically generates $56 million for the local economy, according to the Kentucky Derby Festival, but with the Ohio River still flooding the Great Lawn, Thunder was canceled, meaning a loss of foot traffic for Feast BBQ.

“I mean, it could be five figures honestly, in one day of loss,” Speakman said.

Galaxie, a bar across the street, also felt the effects of the cancellation.

“It’s still not as busy as like we would have expected it to be. I can definitely see how the lack of the celebration tonight has kind of just affected, like the overall like mood in the city,” said Jaime Perez, the club’s kitchen manager.

KDF said the event couldn’t be postponed or rescheduled because it is such a large-scale event with a massive logistical undertaking.

“Nothing you can do. They couldn’t postpone till a different date. So, this is kind of a day that’s gone, but, hey, at least no one really got hurt today, so it’s all good,” Speakman said.

Kentucky Derby Festival said it costs over $1 million dollars to produce thunder.

The KDF still has over 70 other events planned before Derby.