You don’t have to lace up your running shoes to be part of the excitement — downtown Danville will be buzzing with energy when the 2025 Bourbon Chase relay makes its way through town on Friday, Oct. 3.
This year’s race brings more than 2,600 runners to Kentucky, starting bright and early at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont. Over the course of more than 200 miles, teams will weave their way across central Kentucky, finishing in downtown Lexington on Saturday, Oct. 4. Along the way, the course highlights two Boyle County stops: Perryville in the afternoon, then Wilderness Trail Distillery in Danville, before the first wave of runners makes it downtown to the exchange point at Weisiger Park around 7 p.m.
While waiting for teammates to arrive, runners and locals alike can enjoy live music by The Mercury 7, who will take the Weisiger Park stage from 5:30–8:30 p.m. The downtown celebration will also feature food and drink vendors along Main Street, games, and plenty of opportunities to show visitors what Danville hospitality is all about.
“October 3 will be another great chance to showcase Danville to runners from around the country who’ll spend some time in Danville as the Bourbon Chase makes its way through town,” said Kendall Clinton, executive director of the Danville-Boyle County Tourism Office. “Since it is a relay race, a lot of the team members who aren’t running at the time get a break to have dinner, then rest and relax. Each year we make plans to give them a memorable experience while they are here. The Wilderness Amateur Radio Club will even be there to help teams track runners as they leave Wilderness Trail Distillery heading towards downtown.”
To prepare for the influx of runners and set up the festivities, street closures near Weisiger Park will begin early Friday afternoon and remain in place until the last teams pass through later that evening.
From there, the course continues on to Stanford, before looping runners back to Danville for another exchange point at Millennium Park, and then north into Mercer County. With more than 400 team vans moving through Boyle County, drivers are encouraged to be extra alert. Runners will be wearing reflective gear and lights, but safety remains a top priority throughout the evening.
So even if you’re not running, come downtown, grab some food, enjoy the music, and help cheer on the thousands of athletes making their way through Danville during this unique and unforgettable Kentucky tradition.