LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Thunder Over Louisville is right around the corner, and one lucky fan can help kick off the festivities by winning the 2025 Kentucky Derby "Festival Fanatic" contest.Â
The Kentucky Derby Festival and the Kentucky Lottery are again partnering to pick this year's "Thundernator" as part of the promotion. The person selected will press the button to launch the Thunder Over Louisville fireworks display Saturday, April 12.Â
Organizers say being named the "Festival Fanatic" is like winning the Derby Festival jackpot.Â
"This isn't just any prize pack," said Al Cornish, chair of the 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival. "It's really a chance to experience the Derby Festival like never before."
The prize package includes 10 unique experiences, and VIP treatment.
How To Enter
To enter the promotion, players must sign-in or register for a Fun Club account at kylottery.com or via the Kentucky Lottery app. Players must be in compliance with all requirements of the Fun Club terms of use, including requirements for registering for or updating an existing account in order to submit tickets to enter a promotion.
Once logged in, a player will be able to submit an eligible Fast Play W!N Ticket for a chance to be named the 'Festival Fanatic.' Fast Play tickets including $2 Big W!N, $5 Double W!N, $10 Triple W!N and $20 Max W!N must be purchased between Tuesday, Jan. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 23, at a participating Kentucky Lottery retailer to be eligible.
Prize Packages
In addition to becoming the 2025 Thundernator, the "Festival Fanatic" winner will also receive the following prizes:Â
- Ticket Package, including tickets to the Shepherd Insurance Great Steamboat Race, Kentuckiana Honda Dealers Festival Day at the Downs, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Thunder Over Louisville VIP Rooftop Party, Republic Bank BourbonVille (must be 21+), and the Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade;
- Certificate for private tour of Kern’s Kitchen DERBY-PIE® factory;
- Certificate for Kentucky Derby Museum Tour;
- Official 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival merchandise item;
- Overnight accommodations at The Galt House Hotel for Thunder Over Louisville on Saturday, April 12;
- Tour of the Thunder Over Louisville Command Center and;
- $500 in spending money from the Kentucky Lottery
All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Feb, 23. The drawing for the "Festival Fanatic" will take place on or about Feb. 27.
Winner and guests must be 18 or older. For a complete list of prizes and information, visit kylottery.com.
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