Bourbon & Beyond fans stream into Louisville for 1st day of city's biggest music festival

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Tens of thousands of people poured into the Kentucky Exposition Center on Thursday for the first day of Bourbon & Beyond.

Generally, the festival is the same: big crowds, great music and a lot of bourbon. But for the first time since the festival moved to the Expo Center, much of the setup is new in 2025.

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Bourbon & Beyond | What to know before you go to one of Louisville's biggest music festivals

Adi Schanie

The festival site will move from just west of Interstate 65 to the open parking lots just south and west of Freedom Hall, a move that surely comes, in part, because one day of Louder Than Life was canceled in 2025 as the remnants of Hurricane Helen moved through Louisville.

This new area for music fans has little grass and will drain better than the previous area. However, Danny Wimmer Presents said several turf zones will be laid down around the main stages and general admission areas so the entire space isn't just concrete.

"We never want to disappoint the fans, and moving across the street allows us to be able to have our festival no matter what the weather," Doris Sims, the vice president of business development for Danny Wimmer Presents, said last month.

Another big change is all festival passes will now include free access to 18 rides at Kentucky Kingdom, including the Ferris wheel, Skycatcher, Lightning Run and more. The rides will be open from 2-9 p.m., with the Ferris wheel open until 10 p.m.

Merchandise will now be sold inside the Expo Center, featuring lines to purchase gear, concessions, sponsor activations and lounge seating. Danny Wimmer Presents said in a news release Wednesday the new festival grounds will offer more shade, restrooms and room for fans to move around.

The layout is a little larger, so festival organizers said to expect a good amount of walking when you're out there. But that larger scale also comes with larger stages and video boards.

The Bourbon & Beyond lineup this year includes Phish, Noah Kahan, Benson Boone, Sturgill Simpson, the Lumineers and Jack White.

"The lineup looked awesome," Stephanie Arot, who traveled to town from Pennsylvania, said Thursday. "I mean four days of just really great bands and it seems like a really great vibe here."

For more information, including many of the things you'll need to know before heading to the festival, click here.