1 Million Strong tent at Bourbon & Beyond offers sober space for festival goers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Bourbon and Beyond brings more than 100,000 people to Louisville mixing music and one of Kentucky's top industries.

But the annual music festival can also be overwhelming for people trying to remain sober, so one nonprofit wanted to offer a sober-supportive community in Louisville.

It's the third year in a row that the 1 Million Strong tent has been set up at the music festival. It is a substance-free space for people to connect and enjoy the festival.

Nathan McKinlay traveled from Canada to attend Bourbon and Beyond. He said festivals are therapeutic for him.

"It's vacation. I love it," McKinlay said. "I'm 20 years without alcohol, five years without drugs."

On Sunday, McKinlay was wearing a hat and holding a mocktail during the festival. He's not the only one attending sober.

"This wall is a testament to all the people who lean on each other to get through really trying times," said Kevin Beerman, director of digital communications The Phoenix, one of 1 Million Strong's sponsors.

1 Million Strong is a sober-supportive retreat and impact initiative that creates an environment for festival goers who can't drink alcohol.

"An environment like this while really uplifting for a lot of people, really fun, it can also be triggering," Beerman said. "So having a slower retreat like this for people to come and just disconnect from all the temptation out there and find some stability in a really empowering recovery community can be validating."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are more than 48.7 million Americans struggling with a substance use disorder.

"I'm not participating today, but I do appreciate it, I like what they are all about, 100%," said Dan Doucette.

Between the craft mocktail bars and wall of encouraging messages, McKinlay thinks the tent is someone's saving grace.

"It includes everybody," McKinlay said. "There's a lot of beer tents, marijuana tents, and this tent includes the people that have done those things before and have to keep away from things. I am one of them."

The tent represents a safe place for people in between songs, leaving no one outside of the festival gates.

"Just talk, don't bottle it up," McKinlay said. "Maybe it can help people get out of that rut and realize there is something beyond that."

The tent will also be at Louder Than Life next week.

To learn more about 1 Million Strong, click here.

Related Stories: