When people think of Kentucky, things like horses, bluegrass, and bourbon come to mind.
At the top of the mind right now is the first Kentucky’s Edge Bourbon Conference & Festival which starts tomorrow and runs through Saturday when a sold-out signature conference with Bourbon All-Stars takes place at the NKY Convention Center.
The fun starts at venues throughout Covington and Newport on Friday. This inaugural event is designed to share on a local, national, and international scale what makes Northern Kentucky such a special place.
Kentucky’s Edge Bourbon Conference & Festival is being compared to an “SXSW for bourbon,” referencing the famous South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.
The weekend will include a free music festival on the river, a Kentucky artisan market in MainStrasse Village, and the bourbon conference at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.
There will be bourbon pairings, tastings, and musical performances at restaurants and bars spread out across the two cities.
The main star of the Kentucky’s Edge Bourbon Conference & Festival is, of course, the bourbon. But the event is also meant to celebrate Kentucky’s heritage and culture as a whole.
Local participating distilleries include:
• Boone County Distilling
• Neeley Family Distillery
• New Riff Distilling
• Old Pogue Distillery
• Second Sight Spirits.
For the latest information visit the Kentucky’s Edge Bourbon Conference & Festival website here.
Produced by ESK Presents and presented by TIER1 Performance, Kentucky’s Edge is an immersive weekend of great bourbon, food, music, shopping and conversation.
Check out these music events:
• Friday and Saturday Headliners – Catch Com Truise on Friday, Oct. 4 and Jukebox the Ghost on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Madison Theater, doors open at 7 p.m., shows starts at 8 p.m. Location: 730 Madison Ave, Covington.
• Free Music on the River – Friday, Oct. 4 is cover band night with regional favorite The Rusty Griswolds – music starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 is all original music with Hayseed Dixie – crowds can enjoy tunes from noon to 10 p.m. And yes, there will be bourbon. Location: 202 Madison Ave, Covington.
• Smoke Justis Block Party – Creator’s studio Self Diploma will bring their stable of DJ’s to the block party at Roebling Point. Party the night away – this event runs from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, and 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. Location: 3rd Street & Court St, Covington.
Kentucky’s Edge Bourbon Conference
The conference takes place on Saturday at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center located at 1 W Rivercenter Blvd, Covington from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Keynote speakers include Bill Samuels, Jr., Chairman Emeritus – Maker’s Mark; Mandy Vance, Private Selection – Four Roses Distillery; and Molly Wellman, Mixologist and Author.
Tickets for many of the special events are sold out, but you can check availability here.
And, along the way, check out the fantastic painted and unique Bourbon Barrels you will find all along the Newport and Covington area.
Have a barrel of fun.
