More than 120,000 people attended the Bourbon and Beyond music festival in 2023. | Photo by Jake Miller
After a record-setting attendance last year, there are some changes coming to Bourbon & Beyond 2025. Here are some of the major differences you can expect at this year’s festival:
Merch sales and food options inside the Kentucky Expo Center (that means air conditioning)
Expanded turf zones and tree-covered areas
An extra main entrance
Exclusive access to Kentucky Kingdom — it will be closed to non-festival goers during the weekend
Dedicated ride share areas
Single day and four day passes are still available for purchase ahead of the festival, which begins Thursday, Sept. 11.
Asked
Asked
What are you most looking forward to at the Kentucky State Fair?
A. The food
B. The rides
C. The music
D. The animals
E. Other
Marketplace Hall Yoga | 6 p.m. | West Sixth NuLu | Free | Bring your own mat and ease into the week with this donation-based class that’s open to all levels.
Tuesday, Aug. 12
Summer Social at Goodbounce Pickleball Yard | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Goodbounce Pickleball Yard | Free entry | Get a free pickup game on the courts, grab a drink from the bar, and wind down with cornhole and and spikeball.
Wednesday, Aug. 13
Beginner Quilting: 3-Week Series | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Blackacre Nature Preserve | $75 | It’s the first in a three-week series where you’ll learn to use your sewing machine to make a quilt.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Bourbon & Botanicals 2025: Rosie and The Rockabillies | 5:30-9 p.m. | Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, Crestwood | $25 | This retro-themed band will perform an outdoor concert after a garden walk with the Yew Dell horticultural staff.
Friday, Aug. 15
Paranormal Cirque | Friday, Aug. 15-Monday, Aug. 18 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Lynn Family Stadium | $27 | Something wicked this way comes to Louisville as acrobats, illusionists, and more put on a dark, fantastical show under the big top.
Want to make an impact in our community? Become a mentor.
Presented by YMCA of Greater Louisville
Mentor Victoria attending Juneteenth Celebration with Y-NOW mentee Anthony (Y-NOW Spring 2025 class). | Photo supplied by Angie Staley
Did you know that studies have shown children with incarcerated or substance-using parents face a higher risk of repeating those cycles? That’s where Y-NOW mentoring comes in.
It supports youth like Anthony, whose mom is incarcerated and dad died from gun violence.
Struggling in school and with grief, he joined the YMCA Safe Place Services Y-NOW mentoring program and connected with Victoria, who helped him manage anger + loneliness.
Now, his grades are up, his behavior has improved — and he’s even learning to cut hair.
Enso announced it will close its doors, effective immediately. Chef Lawrence Weeks recently left both Enso and North of Bourbon, the latter of which will remain open. (Courier Journal)
Eat
Sales of the boxed breakfast have fallen by 13% in the US compared to 2021 — a decline attributed to changing preferences in young Americans. But who can blame them when they have local brunch options like this? (New York Post)
Try This
If you’ve been meaning to visit the Slugger Museum, consider this a sign: It was just named the top must-see attraction in Kentucky. Been there, done that? There are plenty of other local gems to explore. (Money Talks News)
Stat
2.2%. That’s the percentage of income Louisvillians should expect to spend on clothing, based on a study by WalletHub. This outfits Derby City at No. 17 on the site’s list of cities where people spend the most to get dressed (when comparing the 100 largest US cities).
Trending
“Hot Girl Summer” ruled in 2019. “Brat” summer took over in 2024. Now, this summer has been dubbed “brain rot summer” — a season with no viral anthem, no clear vibe, and scattered cultural chatter. If that makes you want to unplug entirely, touch grass at a local park. (Business Insider)
The Word
"Coolcation.” A travel trend to beat the heat + take a trip to cooler regions of the world, like Iceland, Norway, and Alaska. Pack extra layers and travel like a pro through SDF. (Scripps News)
Number
81. That’s how many days there are until Halloween, but you can get your phalanges on this Ultra Skelly from Home Depot right now. (Engadget)
The Louisville Zoo is open seven days a week. | Photo by the Louisville Zoo
Louisville’s kids are back to school, so this one goes out to all the parents of kids too young to start. Louisville has plenty of activities for kids of all ages, but here are some specifically for the little ones.
All About Kids
Small children will enjoy an inflatable fun zone with bounce houses, inflatable mazes and more, as well as open gym and swim time. Kids will remember leaping into the giant ball pits.
Glow Worm Play Cafe
This play cafe gives busy parents a space to enjoy a coffee while little ones join in on 90-minute or two-hour play sessions. Kids will remember strolling along on giant ladybugs and bumblebees.
My Gym
Created for babies and small children, My Gym offers a place for parents to introduce their little ones to a fun gymnastic experience. Kids will remember learning to tumble under the watchful eye of their favorite grownup.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
The roster at Mashup Food Hall continues to grow. Coldsmoke Bagels will be moving into the NuLu food hall when it opens, and this week Red Top Dogs announced it will also be making the trek from its current home inside Atrium Brewing.
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