01/16/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL & KENTUCKY LOTTERY SEARCHING FOR 2024 THUNDERNATOR

WINNER WILL BE OFFICIAL THUNDERNATOR OF FIREWORKS SHOW

January 16, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Your lottery tickets could help you win big at this year’s Kentucky Derby Festival! The Derby Festival and Kentucky Lottery are teaming up once again to give away an unforgettable Derby Festival experience this spring. One lucky winner will be named the 2024 ‘Derby City Fanatic’ and receive a prize package filled with one-of-a-kind Derby Festival-themed experiences, ranging from VIP treatment to being the official Thundernator – the person who starts the fireworks for Thunder Over Louisville, one of the nation’s largest fireworks displays. Plus, they’ll win $500!

“There’s no better way to experience the Derby Festival than as the Derby City Fanatic,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO. “We’ve enlisted the help of the Kentucky Lottery because they are the experts at giving away valuable prizes. We can’t wait to meet this year’s winner and give them a Festival experience like no other.”

This year marks a special milestone as the Kentucky Lottery turns 35 and it’s also the 35th production of Thunder Over Louisville.

To participate, any eligible PICK 3 or KENTUCKY 5 tickets costing $5 or more can be entered during the promotional period. The prize package includes around 10 unique experiences. In addition to being the 2024 Thundernator, the winner will also receive the following:

  • Tickets to the Thunder Over Louisville VIP Rooftop Party;
  • Accommodations at The Galt House Hotel during Thunder Over Louisville weekend;
  • Tickets to the Shepherd Insurance Great Steamboat Race;
  • Tickets to Honda World Festival Day at the Downs on Thurby;
  • Tickets to Republic Bank BourbonVille (attendees must be 21+);
  • A tour of the Kentucky Derby Museum;
  • Private tour at Kern’s Kitchen/Derby-Pie ®;
  • $500 in spending money from the Kentucky Lottery; and
  • Official 2024 Derby Festival merchandise/swag, including the 2024 Official Poster

“With the Kentucky Lottery and Thunder Over Louisville both turning 35, we are thrilled to once again announce this year’s Derby City Fanatic,” said Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville. “We look forward every year to meeting the Kentucky Lottery’s Derby City Fanatic and to have this lottery winner be the Thundernator, pressing that button to start the largest annual fireworks show 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.

Winner and guests must be 18 or older. For a complete list of prizes and information, visit kylottery.com.

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 PICK 3 or KENTUCKY 5 ticket worth $5 or more for a chance to be named the ‘Derby City Fanatic.’ (PICK 3 or KENTUCKY 5 tickets must be purchased between January 15, 2024 and February 25, 2024, at a participating Kentucky Lottery retailer to be eligible). All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on February 25, 2024. The drawing for the ‘Derby City Fanatic’ will take place on or about Thursday, February 29, 2024.

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