Annual event Bourbon & Belonging, focusing on LGBTQ+ community, to be held in Kentucky for a second time on October 3-5.
Bourbon & Belonging, Kentucky's Queer Bourbon Week, is set to return for its second annual event from October 3–5, 2025. This statewide celebration will take place across multiple cities, including Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, Paducah, and Frankfort, among others.
The event is a testament to Kentucky's reputation as a welcoming, world-class bourbon destination, as celebrated by Julie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of meetNKY. It continues to reinforce Kentucky's commitment to being a welcoming destination for all.
Bourbon & Belonging is modeled after Sonoma's Gay Wine Weekend and DC's QueerBeer Fest, and is hosted by Queer Kentucky, an organisation dedicated to storytelling, education, and community programming. The event's mission is to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ Kentuckians, with all proceeds supporting Queer Kentucky's initiatives.
Missy Spears, executive director of Queer Kentucky, stated that Bourbon & Belonging is more than an event, it's a declaration that LGBTQ+ people belong in every space, including those deeply rooted in Kentucky's cultural identity.
The 2025 event will feature collaborations with leading bourbon brands such as Old Forester, New Riff Distilling, Wenzel Whiskey, and Maker's Mark. The schedule and full list of specific events have not been published yet, but it is expected to follow a similar format to previous years, with curated experiences at various venues over the three-day weekend.
One specific event mentioned is Bourbon on the Banks in Frankfort, KY on October 4, 2025. For the most accurate and up-to-date schedule, it is recommended to join the Bourbon & Belonging email list via their official website (www.bourbonandbelonging.com) or follow their social media channels, where event updates and detailed lineups will be announced as the event date approaches.
Cleo Battle, President & CEO of Louisville Tourism, has celebrated Bourbon & Belonging as a shining example of Louisville's hospitality and cultural heritage. The event is designed to welcome LGBTQ+ Kentuckians and visitors into bourbon spaces and hospitality experiences, reinforcing its role as a beacon for inclusive tourism and cultural celebration in the South.
The 2024 event of Bourbon & Belonging was successful, welcoming visitors from across the globe. The 2025 event will build on last year's momentum with a weekend full of curated events, distillery experiences, queer performances, and culinary offerings.
[1] Bourbon & Belonging Official Website [2] Queer Kentucky Official Website [3] meetNKY Official Website [4] Louisville Tourism Official Website [5] Bourbon on the Banks Official Website
- The second annual Bourbon & Belonging, Kentucky's Queer Bourbon Week, will take place from October 3–5, 2025, in multiple cities across the state, including Louisville, Northern Kentucky, and several others.
- Missy Spears, executive director of Queer Kentucky, has stated that Bourbon & Belonging is more than an event; it's a declaration that LGBTQ+ people belong in every space, including those deeply rooted in Kentucky's cultural identity.
- The 2025 event will feature collaborations with leading bourbon brands like Old Forester, New Riff Distilling, Wenzel Whiskey, and Maker's Mark, with a schedule full of curated experiences at various venues over the three-day weekend.
- The success of the 2024 Bourbon & Belonging event, which welcomed visitors from across the globe, sets the stage for a weekend full of queer performances, culinary offerings, and distillery experiences in 2025.
- For the most accurate and up-to-date schedule of events, it's recommended to join the Bourbon & Belonging email list via their official website or follow their social media channels.
- The event's organizers, Queer Kentucky, are committed to storytelling, education, and community programming, with all proceeds supporting their initiatives aimed at uplifting and empowering LGBTQ+ Kentuckians.
