Heading to Bourbon & Beyond? Here’s what you need to know before you go

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB+WAVE) — Bourbon, food and more than 100 musical acts are taking over the Kentucky Exposition Center this week as Bourbon & Beyond returns to Louisville.

The four-day festival runs Thursday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Gates open at 11 a.m. each day.

This year’s lineup features Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Kentucky native Chris Stapleton and Dave Matthews Band as headliners, along with dozens of other artists spanning rock, country, folk and alternative music.

Here’s what you need to know before heading to Bourbon & Beyond:

Who’s playing?

Foo Fighters headline the opening night Thursday, joined by Queens of the Stone Age, Goose, Gary Clark Jr., Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Cheap Trick, The War on Drugs and more.

Mumford & Sons take over Friday’s top billing alongside Kacey Musgraves, Foster the People, Father John Misty, The Flaming Lips and Of Monsters and Men.

Saturday brings a home-state headliner with Chris Stapleton. The Red Clay Strays, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Charley Crockett, Noah Cyrus and Durand Jones & The Indications are also among the day’s performers.

Dave Matthews Band closes out the festival Sunday. Hootie & The Blowfish, Counting Crows, Portugal. The Man, Fitz and the Tantrums and Better Than Ezra are also part of Sunday’s lineup.

Festivalgoers can find the complete schedule and set times through the official Bourbon & Beyond app.

It’s about more than music

Bourbon & Beyond combines its music lineup with food and, of course, bourbon.

The Kroger Big Bourbon Bar features a selection of Kentucky bourbons and specialty cocktails, while The Hunter’s Club offers rare, vintage and experimental bourbons.

The Fork & Flask experience features celebrity and Kentucky chefs, local restaurants and culinary demonstrations. The festival’s Bourbon Experience also includes discussions, workshops and demonstrations featuring bourbon experts and distillers.

Kentucky Kingdom is included

Festival passes include access to Kentucky Kingdom, which will be open exclusively to Bourbon & Beyond attendees during the event.

Festivalgoers will have free access to 17 rides, including Lightning Run, Scream Extreme, Skycatcher, the new Flying Fox roller coaster and the Giant Wheel.

Rides operate from 2-9 p.m. each day, while the Giant Wheel remains open until 10 p.m. Hurricane Bay will be closed.

What bags can I bring?

Bourbon & Beyond has size restrictions on bags allowed inside the festival.

Clear drawstring bags can be no larger than 16 by 13 inches, while clear small backpacks and totes can be no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches.

One-gallon resealable plastic storage bags are also allowed. Small clutch bags and purses can be no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches, while solid or clear hip and waist packs can be no larger than 7.5 by 4.1 by 2.6 inches.

Mesh bags are not considered clear bags.

Festivalgoers can also bring one factory-sealed water bottle or an empty reusable plastic bottle. Hydration stations will be available throughout the festival grounds.

Can I bring a lawn chair?

Guests must have a Lawn Chair Pass to bring an approved chair into the festival. Standard low-profile lawn chairs, deck-style chairs and seat cushions are allowed with the pass.

Camping chairs, folding chairs, chaise lounge chairs, patio chairs and rocking chairs are not permitted. Lawn Chair Passes are available while supplies last.

Where should I park?

General parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center costs $40 per day and is available on a first-come, first-served basis in Lots E, F, G, B, W and V.

Parking lots open 90 minutes before festival gates each day. Overnight parking is not allowed.

Accessible parking is available in Lot B through Gate 1 with a valid accessible parking placard or license plate.

What about rideshare?

Uber, Lyft and other rideshare drop-offs and pickups will use the designated lot off Crittenden Drive, across from the Hilton Garden Inn.

The designated address is 2729 Crittenden Drive.

Is there a shuttle?

Festivalgoers staying downtown can use the Louisville Downtown Shuttle, which provides roundtrip transportation between the Kentucky International Convention Center at 320 W. Jefferson Street and the Kentucky Exposition Center.

Service runs from 10 a.m. to midnight each day, with shuttles arriving every 15 to 30 minutes. Return service continues until one hour after the show ends.

What about TARC?

PARK & TARC service is also available between downtown Louisville and the Expo Center.

Fans can park at the PARC garage at 115 W. Jefferson Street for $20, which includes roundtrip TARC service for everyone in the vehicle.

Riders can take the No. 4 bus from South First and West Liberty streets and get off near Gate 1 on Phillips Lane. Return service begins at 9 p.m. from Crittenden Drive and Central Avenue.

Can I leave and come back?

Festival re-entry is not permitted unless a guest is camping on-site or has booked a hotel and admission package through Jampack.

How do I pay?

Bourbon & Beyond accepts registered festival wristbands, credit and debit cards and digital wallets including Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Kentucky Kingdom is card-only and does not accept festival wristband payments.

Festival organizers recommend registering wristbands before arriving to help speed up entry.

What happens if I lose something?

Lost & Found will be located just inside the Highland Entrance next to the lockers. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 11:20 p.m. each day of the festival.

On Monday, Sept. 28, Lost & Found moves to the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 830 Phillips Lane and will operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A digital Lost & Found is also available through the festival app and website.

Are tickets still available?

Four-day, two-day and single-day passes remain available. Most MINT VIP and SVIP options are sold out, with Thursday MINT tickets still available as of the festival’s latest update.

Festival organizers recommend downloading the official And Beyond app before arriving. The app includes the festival map, set times, merchandise locations, alerts and other updates.