Kentucky, September 27, 2025
News Summary
Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week will take place from October 3-5, celebrating Bourbon culture through a queer lens across major cities. The festival will feature exclusive distillery tours, drag performances, and cultural events aimed at promoting queer joy and representation. Major distilleries are supporting this initiative, with proceeds going to Queer Kentucky to benefit LGBTQ+ storytelling and advocacy. This event promises to build on the success of its inaugural year, which reached millions globally.
Kentucky
Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week is set to return from October 3-5, 2025, following the success of its inaugural event. This second year promises to celebrate Bourbon culture through a queer lens across various key locations including Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, and Paducah.
The festival aims to attract locals, travelers, and Bourbon enthusiasts to engage in Queer joy and emphasize Kentucky’s rich heritage in the Bourbon industry. Attendees can look forward to a variety of events such as exclusive distillery tours, drag performances, silent discos, and unique brunches, signifying a vibrant merging of culinary experience and cultural celebration.
Through these events, the festival seeks to highlight the legacy of Kentucky’s Bourbon industry while promoting queer storytelling and representation within it. The event is set against the backdrop of the strong ties that the queer community has with Bourbon, which is seen as a vital part of both authenticity and community identity.
Event Highlights
Key highlights from the event span across four major areas:
- Louisville: A series of attractions including a Pride Plates Food Tour, Evan Williams’ Neat Beats silent disco, Old Forester’s Rooftop Party, and Drag Bingo.
- Northern Kentucky: Activities such as Bourbon & Smoke at The Standard, Bourbon Blending with Molly Mormen at Wenzel Distilling, New Riff VIP Tour, and Bourbon Drag Brunch featuring P.H. Dee.
- Lexington: Programming will consist of a Queer history food tour, tastings, craft experiences, and a special event with Silas House.
- Paducah: The Wild Ponies & Bourbon Tasting will include live music, storytelling, and interactions with local Kentucky spirits.
This event is proudly supported by major distilleries such as Old Forester, New Riff Distilling, and Wenzel Whiskey, along with tourism partners across Kentucky.
Community Impact
All proceeds from Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week will benefit Queer Kentucky, an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ storytelling, advocacy, and community programs. This commitment to community support and inclusivity reflects a growing appetite among individuals for celebration and connection through Bourbon.
Historical Context
The inaugural Queer Bourbon Week in 2024 reached an impressive audience of over 6 million people worldwide and included around 60 distinct events across eight cities within Kentucky. Inspired by similar successful initiatives such as Gay Wine Weekend in Sonoma and the QueerBeer Fest in Washington D.C., Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week is enhancing its mission to celebrate diversity, culture, and the enjoyment of Bourbon.
Those interested in attending can find tickets and a full schedule of events on the official festival website at www.bourbonandbelonging.com.
Event Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | October 3-5, 2025 |
| Locations | Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, Paducah |
| Key Events | Distillery tours, drag performances, silent discos, brunches |
| Beneficiary | Queer Kentucky |
| First Year Attendance | 6 million globally |
| Number of Events in 2024 | 60 across 8 cities |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week?
Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week is an event celebrating Bourbon culture through a queer lens, featuring various activities like distillery tours, drag performances, and much more.
When is the event taking place?
The event will take place from October 3-5, 2025.
Where is the event held?
The festival will be held in Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, and Paducah.
What types of events can attendees expect?
Attendees can expect a range of activities, including silent discos, drag performances, unique brunches, and exclusive distillery tours.
Who benefits from the proceeds of the event?
All proceeds will benefit Queer Kentucky, which supports LGBTQ+ storytelling, advocacy, and community programs.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week: Bourbon & Belonging Returns
Additional Resources
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON KY STAFF
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexingtonKY.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
