Louder Than Life Festival Grounds are Getting Some Exciting Upgrades and a Seventh Stage

People heading to Louder Than Life this year are going to see and experience some of the major upgrades taking place at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center. And it’s all thanks to a multi-year agreement between Danny Wimmer Presents and Kentucky Venues that will change the face of the festival forever.

Starting this September when both Louder Than Life (September 18-21) and its sister event Bourbon & Beyond (September 11-14) take place, a number of massive expansions on the festival site will make attending each event way more comfortable for everyone. With each enhancement, people should be able to move more comfortably, enjoy more shaded areas, and experience the myriad of exciting performances that happen over the course of these four-day events.

Some of the key upgrades that people can expect this year include a much larger layout so areas between each stage is less cramped, more tree-shaded areas to avoid direct sunlight, a literal amusement park on the festival grounds ,and an additional main entrance to make getting in and out of the festival grounds a breeze.

For Danny Wimmer, owner and organizer at DWP, the changes made represent a larger commitment to Louisville’s “cultural and economic future.”

“This move has been years in the making, and we’re thrilled to finally bring it to life. With Bourbon & Beyond, and Louder Than Life both growing year over year, we knew it was time for more space, more comfort, and more ways to elevate the fan experience beyond just the music…I’m ecstatic because this is just the beginning of something truly special for our festivals in Louisville.”

This year’s Louder Than Life promises more than 160 bands across seven stages, making it one of the largest festivals in North America. This year’s shindig will feature the returns of Slayer, Rob Zombie, and Marilyn Manson, while more up-and-coming bands play the smaller stages.

The following is a full run down of what’s changing with this year’s Louder Than Life festival:

DWP is rolling out sitewide enhancements to make festivalgoers’ weekends smoother, more comfortable, and easier to keep cool.

• An immersive merch experience inside the climate-controlled Kentucky Expo Center, featuring festival gear, additional activations, and lounge seating
• More tree-shaded areas throughout the grounds to beat the heat
• Expanded turf zones at the main stages and GA areas
• A more spacious layout designed to let fans stretch out, sway easy, and savor every moment between sets
• An added main entrance to help ease the flow and get fans in the gates quicker
• Bourbon & Beyond will be more than doubling its GA Lawn Chair Pass capacity and releasing more for purchase. Current passholders will have first access starting tomorrow (August 7) at 12:00 PM ET before any remaining are released to the public Friday, August 8 at 12:00 PM ET.

All festival passes now include:

• FREE access to amusement rides inside Kentucky Kingdom from 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM daily (closed to the public during the festivals)
• Attractions include the Giant Wheel (ferris wheel, with extended hours), Lightning Run roller coaster, Scream Extreme and Skycatcher, for a total of 18 fan-favorites
• Extra shaded areas, picnic spots & restrooms
• Select concessions, shopping & air-conditioned indoor dining
• The Kentucky Kingdom Water Park will not be open/accessible to festival patrons or the public during this time.

VIP Just Got An Upgrade

• MINT VIP is now 35% larger than ever before, with an expanded layout designed for extra comfort Brand-new 3-story shaded viewing platform offering an elevated view of both main stages (replacing former outdoor patio)
• Added large shade structure for additional coverage throughout VIP area

Transportation & Festival Entry Improvements

• Festival site will be able to better utilize the infrastructure in place on the festival grounds, including roadways and parking as they were originally designed
• A second festival entrance will be added this year
• Dedicated rideshare/taxi area
• Shuttles will be vastly improved
• More details on the specific traffic and parking plan will be provided in the coming weeks

Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center is located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life are produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents.

We hope to see you there!