Join us at The Willow for a special reading and book signing with New York Times bestselling author and former Kentucky Poet Laureate, Silas House, as he shares from his powerful new book of poems, All These Ghosts. Through this intimate evening, you'll experience a moving reflection on place, memory, and belonging. With his signature lyricism, Silas leads us back to childhood paths and voices both silenced and enduring, balancing grief and love in ways that remind us who we are and where we call home. Guests are invited to join the conversation, reflect on Kentucky's past and promise, and leave with a signed copy to carry these stories forward. In honor of Bourbon & Belonging, The Willow Will feature a special menu of bourbon cocktails crafted just for the occasion. No entry fee.

Join us for a summer soirée of community, connection, and celebration—an LGBTQ+ friendly gathering benefiting Bourbon & Belonging and Queer KY. Refresh with seasonal spritzes, summer shandys, and our signature Jefferson’s Ocean Bourbon Spritz while your pup enjoys water bowls and complimentary treats. The highlight of the night: our “Cutest Pup on the Patio” contest, with gift cards awarded to the top three winners. Bring your four-legged best friend, gather your crew, and savor a summer evening of belonging, laughter, and wagging tails.

KMAC is excited to celebrate Bourbon & Belonging Weekend with The Drag-nificent Tour! Follow local drag artists Jen Erocity and Tana Boots as they take you on a tour of the current shows at KMAC Contemporary Art Museum, offering enthusiasm and insights into some of their favorite artworks on view.

Lex Lez Books & Lussi Brown are partnering for a Community Book Swap! On Sunday, 10/5 from 1-4 pm, grab a drink at LB and bring some reads you'd like to pass on & trade them for some new publications. We encourage bringing queer books to trade out, but we're happy to accept any genre. Event is free & 21+ (coffee, tea, cocktails, and mocktails available for purchase)

Coppin’s at Hotel Covington is serving up a Sunday like no other- buffet brunch meets drag extravaganza! Hosted by the fabulous P.H. Dee and featuring the dazzling Jessica Marie Jones, Sasha Grant, and Sarah Jessica Darker, this event brings bold performances, endless energy, and a spread worth savoring. Gather your friends, grab a plate, and get ready for a brunch experience full of flavor, fun, and fierce entertainment in the heart of Covington.

Le Moo’s Legendary Drag Brunch is glam to the bone! Join us for a Taylor Swift themed Drag Show hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race’s very own Dusty Ray Bottoms! Brunch is served buffet-style and packed with seasonal specialties alongside some of your favorite classic breakfast dishes! Whether you’re craving something sweet, savory, or fabulously in between, our rotating selections are designed to wow your taste buds while the queens wow the crowd. Come hungry and ready to slay the day! Two seatings, one at 10:45 and the other at 1:00. Reservations are required.

Join Faulkner Morgan Archive for a special weekend edition of Lex Lez Night at Lussi Brown Coffee Bar on Saturday, October 4th, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Stop by for coffee or a cocktail and learn more about our organization while exploring some of the remarkable LGBTQ stories we preserve. Everyone is welcome, and the event is free for guests 21 and over.

The evening will also feature a selection of archival items highlighting Kentucky’s lesbian history. Afterwards, continue the celebration at Crossings Lexington with a drag show honoring lesbian icons, with a $5 cover. Proceeds support FMA’s work preserving and sharing Kentucky’s LGBTQ history.

Where the pour is smooth, and the beats are smoother. Slip on your wireless headphones, grab your favorite bourbon served neat, and step into a dance floor like no other. At Neat Beats, three stations play everything from funk and disco to house and pop—each channel lighting up your headphones in vibrant colors. You choose your vibe, set your pace, and lose yourself in the rhythm. Surrounded by the warmth of Kentucky bourbon culture, this silent disco is a sensory journey for your ears, taste buds, and soul. Whether you’re grooving with friends or swaying solo, the night belongs to you—no chaser needed.

Dust off your sequins, darlings —it’s time to play bingo like you’ve never played it before! The ladies at Boss Molly Bourbon are bringing their Bourbon-soaked magic to Drag Bingo Night at Hereafter, from 5 to 7pm. 

Enjoy deep discounts on Boss Molly cocktails while being delighted by drag hostess extraordinaire, May O'Nays, who'll be calling out the numbers (and performing some numbers of her own). The laughs will be loud, the prizes will be outrageous, and the energy will be hotter than a Bourbon neat. 

So grab your crew and kick off your Saturday with lots of laughs and a little bit of luck, courtesy of Boss Molly.

FREE to attend, no tickets required! 

Equal parts craftsmanship and queen-sized charisma.

Local drag icon Molly Mormen leads a hands-on blending class at Wenzel Distilling, where guests craft their own signature bourbon pour while enjoying Molly’s wit, warmth, and irreverent humor. Take-home bottles available for purchase

Step behind the barrel at New Riff for a rare glimpse of both the Main Campus and seldom-seen West Campus. This VIP experience includes a private tour of the rickhouse and bottling line, an intimate tasting in the historic tasting room led by CEO Hannah Lowen, and a cocktail class paired with refined light bites. Designed for those who want more than a pour, this is New Riff at its most personal and storied.

Step into Lexington’s Distillery District and beyond for an afternoon that blends bourbon heritage, local flavor, and stories of belonging that deserve to be told. Along the way, we’ll raise a glass to the city’s queer trailblazers, uncover hidden histories, and celebrate the community that continues to thrive today. We’ll visit Elkhorn Tavern, Barrel House, James E. Pepper Distillery, Goodfella’s, Desperado’s Cantina, Crank & Boom, The Book Club Wine Room, and finally — we’ll roll into the evening at The Manchester’s Lost Palm with a drag happy hour — a sparkling celebration of pride, performance, and community spirit.

Take a deep dive into Lexington’s bourbon entrepreneurs of the late 1800s and today; spend time in the RD1 Forest, learning about our R&D distillery and wood-finishing lab; and enjoy a sensory tasting of our bourbon portfolio.

Join us for a Fall Garden Party, celebrating the flavors of the season. Unwind and experience the Old Forester Distillery while savoring craft cocktails and taking in scenic views of the Ohio River from our rooftop terrace. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, seasonal cocktails, and live music!

Free to attend, donations encouraged.

Raise a glass in Covington’s historic Mainstrasse Village. This kickoff event features 10 curated bourbon tastings from Michter’s, Mary Dowling, and Jefferson’s alongside a buffet of house-smoked meats glazed with bourbon. With conversation flowing as smoothly as the pours, this is where Northern Kentucky gathers to sip, savor, and belong.

As part of Bourbon & Belonging, we’re thrilled to bring you an evening that pairs rich Kentucky Bourbon with the soulful sounds of the Wild Ponies. The night kicks off with a guided bourbon tasting at 6:00 PM, followed by live music at 7:30 PM. The event is free to attend, though donations are greatly appreciated.

Wild Ponies—Nashville-based duo Doug and Telisha Williams—blend country roots with raw storytelling and an undeniable chemistry that shines on stage. Their music is heartfelt, intimate, and full of community spirit, making this a performance you won’t want to miss.

Join us for bourbon, music, and belonging—all in one unforgettable evening.

Uncover the hidden side of Kentucky bourbon on the world’s only walking bourbon food tour. As the sun sets over Louisville’s vibrant NuLu neighborhood, you’ll explore beyond the barrel to trace bourbon’s journey from Appalachian roots to global fame. Along the way, enjoy creative bites and modern riffs on classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned and Mint Julep while stopping by award-winning restaurants and rooftop bars. Sample everything from fat-washed to river-aged bourbons, and hear the untold stories you won’t find on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Lussi Brown & LEX Creative ReUse are partnering to bring you a low-key night to craft, meet new friends, & bitch about whatever is on your mind! Come hang out at Lussi Brown Coffee Bar from 5-8pm on Friday, 10/3 and bring your knitting, crocheting, cross-stitching or any other craft you're working on, or try one provided by LEX Creative ReUse at no cost. Event is 21+ only (coffee, tea, cocktails, and mocktails available for purchase).

Come out with us and explore the queer stories of Louisville’s past and present as you eat and drink your way down Bardstown Road, Louisville’s gayborhood! As you stroll through the lush avenues of historic Cherokee Triangle, you’ll taste classic Kentucky bites such as fried chicken, spoonbread, and a Louisville Hot Brown paired with refreshing cocktails (or mocktails). Along the way, you’ll celebrate Queer joy and uncover the diverse history of Kentucky’s Queer folx, from a Black Prohibition-era drag queen to the poets, authors, and activists that paved the way for Kentucky’s LGBTQ+ community.