Food & Drink Events

A new event aimed at showcasing Kentucky’s bourbon and hospitality culture to LGBTQ+ visitors has announced its official entertainment lineup.

Bourbon & Belonging, from LGBTQ+-run nonprofit Queer Kentucky, is happening Oct. 2-6. The inclusive, week-long event features a variety of activities, tastings and gatherings that are designed to foster safety, belonging and community.

“Queer Kentucky is proud to announce that the events calendar and ticket sales are now live for the inaugural Bourbon & Belonging: Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week,” Missy Spears, executive director of Queer Kentucky, said in a press release. “From my Covington home to seven other amazing destinations around the state, we are excited for you to join us for a week of festivities honoring Kentucky’s LGBTQ+ culture and bourbon tradition alongside the top bourbon brands in the world.”

Events will take place across eight Kentucky cities, counties and regions, including Bardstown, Bullitt County, Frankfort, Lexington, Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Paducah and Winchester. The week’s event calendar will feature activities like a single barrel selection experience in Lexington, a disco-themed pool party in Louisville and a bourbon and burlesque show in Northern Kentucky.

Visitors can also expect there to be cocktail classes, bourbon 101 lessons, distillery tours, drag brunches, dinners, a tasting event featuring Kentucky’s only LGBTQ-owned distillery and more. You can see the full lineup of events here.

Bourbon partners for the event include Northern Kentucky’s New Riff Distilling, Second Sight Spirits and Wenzel Whiskey, among other Kentucky distilleries. Hotel Covington, 21c Museum Hotels, Hotel Genevieve and the Common Bond Hotel Collection are also partnering with the event to serve as host hotels.

Bourbon & Belonging will also raise funds for Queer Kentucky and other Kentucky-based LGBTQ+ community service organizations. To buy tickets and stay updated on the latest Bourbon & Belonging news, visit bourbonandbelonging.com.

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July is coming to a close, and this week’s list of things to do in Philadelphia sends Independence Month off in style with another week of sizzling summer fun.

This week is bursting with live performances by award-winning artists and music legends like Def Leppard and Journey at Citizens Bank Park (Tuesday), Beck at The Mann Center (Thursday), Train and REO Speedwagon at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (Friday), Blink-182 at the Wells Fargo Center (Friday), Regina Spektor at The Met (Saturday), and more.

The popular Northern Liberties Summer Night Market returns with brews, music and over two-dozen food trucks (Wednesday).

A beloved tradition, Shakespeare in Clark Park puts on four free outdoor performances of the stage classic As You Like It in West Philly (Wednesday through Sunday).

And the good times roll with Summer Olympics events around Philly (begins Friday) and the continuation of three (!) neighborhood-wide summertime happy hours: Fishtown Taps (Tuesdays), Center City District SIPS (Wednesdays) and Passyunk Passegiata (Thursdays).

Plus, it’s your last chance to savor some of West Philly’s best dining deals during University City Dining Days (through Sunday).

Below, find the best things to do in Philadelphia this week and weekend, July 22 to 28, 2024.

A curated array of Lancashire-made produce, from cakes to cheese, gin to honey, was the talk of the National Festival of Making.

The annual event once again brought thousands of inquiring minds to Blackburn town centre. The festival celebrates makers and producers and combines art, manufacturing, making and communities.

Among the attractions was a Taste Lancashire Market, part of Marketing Lancashire’s established food and drink campaign to champion and highlight the county’s world class food and drink.

Vikki Harris, marketing and partnerships director of Marketing Lancashire, said: “Marketing Lancashire is a proud and active supporter of local food and drink, showcasing Lancashire’s innovative, artisan producers in popular and high profile events locally, nationally and internationally.

“New and returning visitors were able to meet the faces behind the produce and learn first hand about their process and products. As well as returning favourites, the market showcased new businesses like Ookin Coffee, owned by Lancastrian Olympian Holly Bradshaw and Tim Booth.

“The National Festival of Making is a brilliant and engaging event that has something for everybody and the Taste Lancashire Market full of tasty, lovingly crafted products, made in Lancashire, is always a big attraction.”

This year’s Taste Lancashire Market provided visitors with honey from The Bee Centre in Chorley, who impressed the crowds with a live beehive on their stall and answered questions from visitors.

There was chocolate rum from multi-award-winning Lucela’s Premium Spirits of Blackpool (winner of World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur title and a coveted Good Taste Award), Gin and Limoncello from Three Wheel Gin of Morecambe, Mrs. Dowson’s ice cream, fresh from their Ribble Valley farm, a selection of cheeses from Broughton-based Bowes Dairy, puddings from Poulton-Le-Fylde’s Pudalicious, chutneys from Bacup-based Heritage Kitchen, and cakes from Lancaster-based bakery Lone Wolf.

Rachael Spence, owner of Lone Wolf Bakery, said: “We look forward to holding a market stall at the Festival of Making every year.

“The atmosphere is always buzzing regardless of the weather, the other stall holders in the Taste Lancashire Market are always lovely and we have loads of fun working the event. It allows us to network with other local small business and we sell out every year with excellent feedback.”

In addition, the Taste Lancashire Market featured an informative stall from the Blackburn and Darwen Food Alliance, helping visitors to understand the impact of food waste on our environment.

Visitors could also pick up the latest Visit Lancashire magazine, an 80-page essential guide packed full of places to visit, things to do, places to stay and of course restaurants and eateries where you can enjoy Lancashire’s incredible food, drink and hospitality.