Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center
Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center hosts Bourbon & Beyond outdoors, with onsite camping from Car and Tent sites to Tent or RV Glamping. Camping opens at noon on Wednesday, September 23 (9am for Early Arrival Pass holders) and the campground closes at noon on the following Monday, with re-entry to the festival, a camp store and complimentary showers included. A free downtown shuttle, PARC and TARC transit, and first come Expo Center parking all reach the gates, and Access Centers at both entrances offer accessible viewing platforms, an Access Oasis to cool off and a Reset space for neurodiverse guests.
Before you go
- Indoor or outdoor
- Outdoor: concrete, asphalt and natural terrain
- Official site
- bourbonandbeyond.com
- Next festival here
- Bourbon & Beyond, Sep 24 to 27, 2026
Worth knowing before you go
- Leaving the parking lot during the show means losing your spot and paying again to get back in.
- Overnight parking is not allowed at the Expo Center lots.
- There can be great distances between parking, camping and the stages, over concrete, asphalt and natural terrain.
- Accessible viewing areas are first come, first served, with one companion allowed per Access Program patron.
- Camping check in follows its own hours, and all campers need a scanned festival pass for a wristband.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Held outdoors, concrete and natural terrain · Onsite camping, 5 nights included · Free downtown shuttle to the gates.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want onsite camping and a free shuttle option rather than a hotel commute.
- You'll use the Access Centers for accessible viewing or a quiet break.
Think twice if
- You need to leave and re-enter parking during the day: your spot won't be held.
- You need everything close together: distances between parking, camping and the stages can be significant.
Getting there and parking
Festival-specific · Bourbon & BeyondA free Louisville Downtown Shuttle runs 10:30am to midnight daily between downtown hotels, including the Galt House Hotel, Embassy Suites Downtown and the Kentucky International Convention Center, and the festival gates. PARC and TARC also connect downtown to the Expo Center, with parking at the PARC garage on West Jefferson including roundtrip TARC service.
Festival-specific · Bourbon & BeyondGeneral parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center is first come, first served, within walking distance of the Highland Festival Grounds, and is sold directly through the Expo Center for a daily fee by cash or card at Gates 1, 4 and 6. Leaving during the show means losing your spot and paying again to re-enter, and overnight parking is not allowed.
Accessibility
Festival-specific · Bourbon & BeyondAccess Centers near guest services at both entrances provide Access Program wristbands for raised accessible viewing platforms and ground-level accessible viewing areas, which are first come, first served and allow one companion per patron. There is also an Access Oasis to cool off and rest between shows, and a Reset space for neurodiverse patrons to find some quiet.
Festival-specific · Bourbon & BeyondThere are sometimes great distances between parking lots, camping and the stages, and the campgrounds and festival grounds combine concrete, asphalt and natural terrain, though an elevated viewing area is available at the main stage for guests who need accommodations.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (bourbonandbeyond.com).
Camping
Festival-specific · Bourbon & BeyondBourbon & Beyond offers onsite camping at the Kentucky Expo Center, from Car and Tent camping to Tent or RV Glamping packages. Passes include five nights, re-entry to the festival during event hours, campground concessions, a camp store and complimentary showers. Camping opens at noon on Wednesday, September 23 (9am for Early Arrival Pass holders), and the campground closes at noon on Monday, September 28.
Recently at Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center
Sullivan King at Welcome To Rockville 2026
From the venue · Sep 21, 2026
Good Charlotte at Sonic Temple 2026
From the venue · Sep 18, 2026
Sleep Theory at Inkcarceration 2026
From the venue · Sep 16, 2026
Bourbon & Beyond
Quick answers
Can I camp at Bourbon & Beyond?
Yes. Onsite camping ranges from Car and Tent sites to Tent or RV Glamping, with five nights included and camping opening at noon on the Wednesday before the festival.
Is there a shuttle to the festival?
Yes. A free Louisville Downtown Shuttle runs 10:30am to midnight between downtown hotels and the gates, and PARC and TARC also connect downtown to the Expo Center.
Is parking free at Highland Festival Grounds?
No. General parking is sold by the day through the Expo Center, first come, first served, and leaving during the show means paying again to re-enter.
Can I park overnight at the Expo Center?
No. Overnight parking is not allowed.
Is Bourbon & Beyond accessible?
Partly. Access Centers at both entrances offer accessible viewing platforms and areas, though they are first come, first served, and the outdoor grounds mix concrete, asphalt and natural terrain over sometimes great distances.
Is there a place to cool off or find some quiet?
Yes. The Access Oasis offers a spot to cool off and rest, and the Reset space gives neurodiverse patrons somewhere quiet.
When does festival camping close?
At noon on the Monday after the festival, September 28 in 2026.