Blog News
Bourbon & Beyond 2025: Highlights from Day 1 of the Festival
Sep
Bourbon & Beyond, dubbed the world’s largest bourbon, food & music festival, returned to Louisville on Thursday, September 11, 2025, for its seventh edition — this time on an expanded site at the Highland Festival Grounds, part of the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Here’s everything you need to know about Day 1 — what stood out, what’s new, and why this festival keeps getting bigger and more immersive.
New Venue + Expanded Footprint
- The festival moved to a space that is twice as large as last year’s Highland Festival Grounds.
- The site uses part of the Kentucky Exposition Center plus access to Kentucky Kingdom amusement park rides (exclusive for festival-goers).
- Indoor facilities, air-conditioned areas, more shade, better layout and more amenities (bathrooms, vendor spacing) were among the improvements fans immediately noticed.
Headliners & Key Performances on Day 1
- Big acts on Thursday included The Lumineers, Benson Boone, Alabama Shakes, Cage The Elephant (Kentucky’s own), Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Collective Soul, and more.
- Cage The Elephant gave a standout performance, blending fan favorites with newer material.
Festival Experience: What Fans Loved
- The larger layout immediately felt less crowded. Fans commented on more breathing room, better flow to move between stages and vendors.
- Access to rides at Kentucky Kingdom added a fun twist — fans could cool off, ride, and enjoy indoor and shaded spaces when needed.
- Improved amenities: better merchandise setup (indoor, air-conditioned areas), more vendor variety, additional bathrooms, more shade tree zones.
Culinary, Bourbon & Workshop Highlights
- Beyond music, the festival continues its culinary and bourbon lineup: bourbon tastings, workshops, panels, and food vendors offering local flavors.
- Featured bourbon experiences included rare/vintage pours, specialty bars, and unique activations for cocktail lovers.
- Local food vendors making waves: bagels, tacos, baked goods, pizza, spring rolls, ice cream, and more from Louisville favorites.
What’s New in 2025
- New categories of comfort and convenience: better entry flow, more shaded areas, and turf zones.
- VIP / MINT VIP upgrades with expanded layouts and enhanced viewing platforms.
- Free access to rides at Kentucky Kingdom for attendees (during certain hours) was a major draw.
Takeaways from Day 1
- Fans appreciated the space — Day 1 showed that the larger footprint and improved layout paid off.
- The mix of big headliners and local Kentucky talent created an energized opening night.
- Non-music components (bourbon, food, rides, workshops) are no longer side attractions; they are integral to the experience.
- Comfort enhancements show festival organizers are listening to feedback (shade, amenities, vendor variety).
>>>> Our Merch Bourbon And Beyond Collection : https://chizardiality.com/product-tag/bourbon-and-beyond/
What’s Coming Up
- The festival continues through September 12-14, with additional headliners and new acts.
- More bourbon panels, workshops, and late-night activations.
- Key performances on later days, and likely more surprises in vendor offerings and onsite experiences.
Final Thoughts
Day 1 at Bourbon & Beyond 2025 set a promising start: bigger, better, more comfortable, and with a lineup and mix of experiences that satisfy both music lovers and bourbon aficionados. If you’re still debating whether to attend, the first day already makes a strong case — this one feels like more than just another festival.
Homepage: Chizardiality
