April 2, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Through a Fast Play W!N ticket second-chance promotion, sponsored by the Kentucky Lottery, Springville, Tenn., resident Aleece Passman is this year’s Festival Fanatic for the 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival. As part of her lucky win, she will serve as the Thundernator for the Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville on Saturday, April 12.
“The Kentucky Lottery has helped us pick the Festival Fanatic for more than a decade, and each year is like giving away the Kentucky Derby Festival jackpot,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. “Being the 2025 Thundernator isn’t just a role, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the magic of Thunder like never before.”
Passman is kicking off her first-ever Thunder Over Louisville with a bang! She’ll have the unique opportunity to provide the Thunder countdown and “zero” ignition to activate the launch system sequence in the Command Center at The Galt House Hotel. Her Festival Fanatic prize package also includes numerous one-of-a-kind Derby Festival-themed experiences and $500 in spending money from the Kentucky Lottery.
Passman, who lives on the Kentucky and Tennessee border, and attended Murray State University, entered several tickets for a shot at being the 2025 Thundernator and it paid off. She said when she received the call from Kentucky Lottery about the news, she didn’t believe it at first.
“I was so shocked. I almost forgot that the drawing was coming up,” Passman said. “I thought, ‘is this a prank? Is somebody pranking me? Oh wow, this IS real!’”
Fans had the chance to participate in the Lottery’s Festival Fanatic drawing promotion over a more than month-long period, which kicked off Jan. 14. The qualifying winning tickets included Fast Play W!N tickets ($2 Big W!N, $5 Double W!N, $10 Triple W!N and $20 Max W!N).
“Every year we look forward to announcing the Kentucky Lottery’s Derby Festival Fanatic,” said Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville. “The Kentucky Lottery is proud to be a Kentucky Derby Festival sponsor and to have this lottery winner be the Thundernator, turning that switch to start one of the largest annual fireworks shows in North America on Thunder Day, plus have a front-row spot for some amazing experiences. Our promotion truly creates a lifetime of Derby Festival memories.”
The prize package includes around 10 unique experiences. In addition to being the 2025 Thundernator, the winner will also receive the following:
- Derby Festival 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
