Kentucky Best Food and Drink Festivals
Food, Wine, Spirits and Beer Festivals listed also include surrounding areas that host signature events.
Louisville
Bourbon Classic
February
Tailspin Ale Fest
March
Owensboro BBQ & Barrels Festival
May
Kentucky Derby
May
W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival
June
Kentucky Craft Bash Beer Fest
June
Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival
July
JTown Beer Fest
July
Frazier Summer Beer Fest
July
Mac & Cheese Festival
August
Old Lou Brew Craft Beer Festival
August
Old Lou Brew Craft Beer Fest
September
Louisville Taco Festival
September
World Chicken Festival
September
Bardstown Kentucky Bourbon Festival
September
Bourbon & Beyond Music Festival
September
WorldFest
September
Spencer County Oktoberfest
October
Louisville Taco Festival
October
USA Today Wine & Food Experience
October
Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Festival
November
Lexington
Kentucky Wine & Vine Festival Nicholasville
March
Bluegrass BBQ Festival
May
Bluegrass Brew & BBQ Fest
April
Winchester Beer Cheese Festival
June
Nicholasville Wine & Vine Festival
June
Crave Food & Music Festival
July
Kentucky Bourbon Jam Richmond
August
Frankfort Bourbon on the Banks
October
Bowling Green
Grand Rivers Bluegrass, Brew & BBQ
April
Tequila n' Tacos
April
BG Wine Fest
July
Bourbon & Brew Fest
October
Newport
Smoke on the River BBQ Fest
May
Italianfest Newport
June
Covington Taco & Margarita Festival
June
Bacon Bourbon & Brew Fest
July
Goettafest
July
Great Inland Seafood Festival
August
Newport Oktoberfest
September
A Food and Beverage Odyssey: Kentucky's Premier Festivals Celebrating Food, Wine, Spirits, and Beer
Kentucky, a state known for its rich cultural heritage, horse racing, and, of course, bourbon, is also a haven for food and drink enthusiasts. If you're a connoisseur or simply someone who loves to savor delicious bites and sips, Kentucky has some incredible festivals that should be on your radar. Let's look at few.
Kentucky Whiskey Festivals ​
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival: September
This premier bourbon celebration in Bardstown honors America's native spirit with a week of tastings, workshops, and culinary delights. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival welcomes over 50,000 visitors annually to the Spalding Hall grounds and surrounding historic downtown venues. Festival-goers can sample offerings from more than 30 distilleries, including iconic names like Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Heaven Hill, and Four Roses, while enjoying southern cuisine from local food trucks serving bourbon-inspired dishes and traditional Kentucky favorites.
Live music fills the air throughout the festival, with past performers including Kentucky natives like Chris Stapleton and Dwight Yoakam taking the main stage. The event features unique experiences such as barrel-rolling competitions, cooperage demonstrations, and expert-led bourbon education sessions where visitors learn the art of bourbon making and proper tasting techniques. Special features include the World Championship Bourbon Barrel Relay, the Master Distillers' Auction of rare bottles, and exclusive behind-the-scenes distillery tours that aren't available during regular visiting hours.
Bourbon on the Banks Festival: October
A celebration of America's native spirit pairs perfectly aged bourbon with locally sourced culinary delights at the prestigious River View Park in Frankfort. Bourbon on the Banks features over 20 distilleries including Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, and Woodford Reserve, alongside 15 regional food vendors serving bourbon-inspired dishes and traditional Kentucky fare. Live bluegrass and folk music keeps the atmosphere lively with performances from local favorites like The McKendrees and The Marble Creek Rangers on the main stage.
Festival attendees, typically numbering around 2,000, can participate in bourbon education sessions led by master distillers and enjoy specialized tasting flights while overlooking the Kentucky River. The event transforms the historic park into a bourbon lover's paradise with craft cocktail demonstrations, bourbon-themed cooking classes, and expert-led seminars on the art of distilling. VIP guests receive exclusive access to rare bourbon selections and a designated riverside lounge area featuring specialty food pairings and intimate acoustic performances.
Kentucky Beer Festivals
Louisville Tailspin Ale Fest: March
A craft beer celebration at historic Bowman Field has become one of Kentucky's premier winter beer festivals. Over 70 regional and national craft breweries pour more than 250 different beers for approximately 2,000 beer enthusiasts during the indoor/outdoor event. Notable breweries include Against the Grain, Mile Wide Beer Co., Falls City Beer, and West Sixth Brewing, alongside food vendors serving artisanal pretzels, gourmet hot dogs, and locally-made chocolates. The festival features unique experiences like a Silent Disco area where attendees can dance while wearing wireless headphones, specialty rare beer tappings throughout the day, and a heated outdoor bourbon barrel lounge.
Local bands perform live music on the main stage, with past performers including The Crashers and Johnny Berry & The Outliers. The event space utilizes both an airplane hangar and outdoor tarmac areas, allowing guests to view private jets while sampling beverages and engaging with Kentucky's craft beer community.
Summer Beer Fest at Frazier: July
One of Kentucky's largest craft beer celebrations returns to the historic Frazier History Museum for its milestone 20th anniversary celebration. The vibrant downtown Louisville venue will host over 200 specialty and craft beer varieties, featuring both regional favorites and nationally recognized breweries. Local food vendors will serve up Kentucky-inspired cuisine to complement the extensive beer selection.
Live music will fill the museum grounds throughout the event, creating an energetic atmosphere for thousands of beer enthusiasts and casual tasters alike. The festival showcases Kentucky's thriving craft beer scene while utilizing both indoor and outdoor spaces of the museum's unique architectural setting. Special features include commemorative tasting glasses, bourbon barrel-aged beer releases, and access to the museum's first-floor exhibits during the event.
Kentucky Food Festivals ​
Lexington Crave Food & Music Festival: July
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This annual summer beer festival at the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, is set to be one of the largest beer-tasting events in the state. Over 200 specialty beers will be available for sampling, including craft and specialty brews from local, regional, and out-of-state breweries. Food vendors such as Bearno's, Lou Diggity's No Doubt, the Misfit Lou, and Sunergos Coffee will be serving up tasty treats to complement the brews.
The event will feature live music from brass bands and even a "Chicken Dance" for attendees to participate in. A Fun Zone at Ninth and Main Streets will offer games and activities like cornhole, Puttshack, and a dunk tank, adding to the festive atmosphere. The museum itself will be open to VIP ticket holders, allowing them to explore exhibitions while enjoying exclusive beer offerings in the Gateway Garden.
Louisville WorldFest: September
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The largest international festival in the region draws over 160,000 visitors annually to the Belvedere in downtown Louisville. Louisville WorldFest showcases more than 100 food and craft vendors representing cultures from across the globe, with favorites like Funmi's African Restaurant serving jollof rice and Thai Noodles by Cindy offering authentic pad thai. Three stages pulse with world music and dance performances, including previous headliners like Cheick Hamala Diabate from Mali and Louisville's own Appalatin folk fusion band. Festival-goers can explore the Global Village featuring traditional artisans demonstrating crafts like Chinese calligraphy and Ukrainian egg painting, while the Parade of Cultures highlights traditional dress from over 50 nations.
The Kentucky Refugee Ministries booth offers educational resources about Louisville's diverse immigrant communities, while children enjoy hands-on activities in the Cultural Children's Area with origami workshops and international games. Visitors can sample unique beverages in the World of Beers garden featuring craft brews from Germany, Belgium, and Japan, alongside demonstrations of traditional tea ceremonies from multiple cultures.
Kentucky Wine Festivals
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Nicholasville Wine & Vine Festival: June
The widely attended Kentucky wine festival features a delightful blend of local and regional wineries showcasing their finest vintages at R.J. Corman Railroad Property, drawing over 2,000 visitors annually to the heart of bourbon country. The Nicholasville Wine & Vine Festival brings together 15 wineries including Chrisman Mill Vineyards, First Vineyard Wines, and Wildside Winery, alongside 20 artisan food vendors offering gourmet cheese plates, wood-fired pizzas, and locally sourced charcuterie. Festival-goers can enjoy live music performances from local bluegrass bands including The Borrowed Notes and Steel and Strings on the main stage, while master sommeliers conduct educational wine tasting sessions throughout the day.
The event highlights Kentucky's growing wine industry with special demonstrations on wine-making processes, grape cultivation techniques, and proper wine tasting etiquette. A carefully curated marketplace features local artists and craftsmen selling wine-related merchandise, handcrafted jewelry, and pottery, while the VIP tent offers exclusive reserve tastings and chef-prepared food pairings. The signature feature includes guided tours of the historic R.J. Corman property and its scenic grounds, complemented by a golden hour wine tasting experience as the sun sets over the Kentucky countryside.
USA Today Wine & Food Festival: August
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A premier culinary gathering draws thousands of food and wine enthusiasts to the scenic Waterfront Park in Louisville, marking the USA Today Wine & Food Experience as a standout event in Kentucky's food scene. Local culinary artisans, including Noche Mexican BBQ, Creative Queen LLC, and Senora Arepa, showcase their signature dishes while interacting directly with guests. Leading beverage producers Riboli Family Wines, Beam Suntory, and Codigo 1530 Tequila offer tastings of their finest selections, from bold reds to artisanal tequilas.
The waterfront setting provides a stunning backdrop for guests to stroll between tasting stations, with the Ohio River and Louisville skyline creating perfect photo opportunities. Expert sommeliers and mixologists guide attendees through curated tastings while sharing their knowledge of wine regions and spirit production. The festival celebrates Kentucky's growing reputation as a culinary destination, blending local flavors with international wine and spirits.
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Whether you're a foodie, wine enthusiast, craft beer lover, or a whiskey connoisseur, these events promise an unforgettable journey through the flavors of the Bluegrass State.