LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bourbon & Beyond opened its gates to music fans Thursday, kicking off a weekend that’s expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to the Kentucky Expo Center.

Sydney Becker said she was shocked at how much Bourbon & Beyond has changed since last year.

“It’s been expanded,” said Becker. “What I loved the first time that I came in was how it feels. Almost like its own music town.”

The festival grounds are bigger than ever, now covering more than 2 million square feet.

With multiple stages set up, organizers said they’re ready for another record crowd. Last year , more than 200,000 people packed into the Kentucky Expo Center.

So what makes people come back year after year?

“Dad raised us on music, so this is actually brother and I’s birthday present, to come al

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