America’s 21st century whiskey boom might be showing signs of slowing, but fans still have more options than ever for in-person libations and festivities. That’s particularly true in Kentucky. While distillery centers like Louisville and Bardstown boast their own festivals (Bourbon & Beyond and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, respectively), Northern Kentucky now has its own annual celebration melding music with the state’s most famous export.

Launched in 2024, Covington, Kentucky’s Bonded Spirit Music Festival is set to return this year on Saturday, March 8th. It’s a combined whiskey and music celebration, focusing on the genres of Bluegrass and Americana. This year’s lineup includes musical guests Nat Myers, Lindsay Lou, and festival headliners The Brothers Comatose.

This year’s main stage is located in Covington’s Roebling Point entertainment district. It will feature “The Rickhaus,” a heated tent holding the main stage. Attendees can catch additional live music along nearby stops on The B-Line®, a self-guided bourbon experience that runs through a selection of distilleries, bars, and whiskey-forward restaurants in Northern Kentucky.

The B-Line®, meetNKY, and nearby New Riff Distilling are all sponsors of this year’s festival. Participating venues will serve up cocktails made with New Riff whiskey. Additionally, VIP ticket holders can also redeem a voucher for a commemorative bottle of New Riff’s Bottled-in-Bond bourbon.

The festival is held in early March to commemorate the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which outlined industry-wide quality standards still used in spirits production today. The 1897 act is often cited as one of the first consumer protection laws. United States Secretary of the Treasury and former Senator John G. Carlisle—a Covington resident—was a key proponent of the Act’s passing.

This year’s Bonded Spirit Music Festival also happens to coincide with the 33rd-annual Bockfest, which takes place across the river in Cincinnati. Celebrating the area’s brewing heritage, Bockfest runs from March 7th to 9th. That means ambitious attendees can experience a beer-focused celebration either before or after Covington’s whiskey-themed one. (Just be sure to pace responsibly.)

Tickets for the Bonded Spirit Music Festival are on sale now. Festivities at participating venues kick off at 1pm on March 8th, which the main gates opening to general ticket holders at 4pm.