The second annual Bourbonanza Festival is set to begin next Friday, October 13th, in downtown Frankfort Kentucky. Bourbonanza is a celebration of all things Bourbon, as well as all the history in Frankfort that is linked to the history of Bourbon.
Downtown Frankfort, Inc. has a lineup of event prepared for the festival that ensure no partygoer will go thirsty. The Friday night festivities will kick off with the Spirits Soirée, a cocktail attire event hosted at the Kentucky History Center. Local distilleries, wineries, and breweries will be offering drinks, while hors d’oeuvres are served and Marlin McKay and Stirfry Rosette play live music. Tickets are available here.
The highlight of the Friday Spirits Soiree will undoubtly be the Rare Spirits Auction, which will include bottles of Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year, Col. E. H. Taylor Four Grain, George T. Stagg 138.1 proof, William Larue Weller 134.6 proof, and Elmer T. Lee, as well as a lineup of Weller bottles signed by Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley.
Saturday’s main attraction, the Spirits Stroll, will be open to the public, and will see downtown Frankfort lined with tents from breweries, distilleries, and wineries, as well as food, live music, and Bourbon-themed demonstrations. KY Gentleman will be hand rolling cigars, Jim Beam will be showing off their barrel staving skills, and Bourbon Book Authors Michael Veach and Susan Reigler will be signing at Poor Richard’s Books. Trollies will take festival guests to VIP tours at Buffalo Trace at 11am and 2pm.
Friday night at 5, the Grand Theater will open for a Buffalo Trace Tasting and Films, showing “Quest for the Perfect Bourbon: Voices of Buffalo Trace Distillery” featuring Elmer T. Lee, and “Kentucky Bourbon Tales: Distilling the Family Business” featuring Bill Samuels, Fred Noe, Jimmy Russell, and more. While all ages are welcome for the films, you must be 21+ to taste. Tickets can be found here.
For those looking for a scare, Spirits of Frankfort Ghost Tour, Dinner, and Bourbon Tasting will also begin Friday at 5, including Creepy Kentucky at the Old State Capital, Ghost Tour and Signature Cocktail at Liberty Hall Historic House, followed by a Dinner and Ghost Tour at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Tickets are available here.
The following day, Canoe KY’s Paddlepalooza will host “The Kentucky River’s Largest Group Paddle” from 1-7 on Sunday afternoon. The Grand Theater will host Jack Hannah for a wildlife talk, complete with his signature cheetah! Tickets are can be found here.
For more information on Bourbonanza and Downtown Frankfort, visit www.bourbonanza.com.
