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January 2026 Issue

Kentucky’s fall season is the perfect time to explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, with crisp air, golden landscapes, and a full calendar of bourbon festivals and tastings. For folks heading to Louisville bourbon events, historic Bardstown, or the charming town of Lawrenceburg, KY this guide covers everything you need to know. Plus, learn why Spencer County lodging is the smart, affordable choice for bourbon travelers.

Louisville Bourbon Events: Urban Bourbon Trail and Fall Festivals

Louisville is a top destination for bourbon lovers, offering a mix of distillery tours, music festivals, and cultural events.

Bourbon & Beyond Festival (September 11–14)
The world’s largest bourbon and music festival features tastings, culinary experiences, and performances by top artists.
Visit: bourbonandbeyond.com

Michter’s Speakeasy at the Frazier History Museum
Celebrate Prohibition-era cocktails and vintage jazz in a 1920s-themed setting.
Visit: fraziermuseum.org

Urban Bourbon Half Marathon (October 18)
Run through scenic neighborhoods and enjoy bourbon tastings at the finish line.
Visit: kybourbontrail.com

Bourbon & Belonging Festival (October, Dates TBA)
An inclusive celebration of bourbon culture with events across Louisville and Bardstown.
Visit: kybourbontrail.com

Bardstown Bourbon Events: Kentucky Bourbon Festival and More

Known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, Bardstown offers a deep dive into bourbon heritage.
Kentucky Bourbon Festival (September 5–7)
Featuring over 60 distilleries, hundreds of bourbon expressions, bottle sales, and master distiller meet-and-greets.
Visit: kybourbonfestival.com

Lawrenceburg Bourbon Events: Small-Town Charm and Big Flavor

Lawrenceburg offers intimate bourbon experiences with a musical twist.
Crafted Corks & Kegs (September 13)
Hosted by Larrikin Bourbon Co., this event blends bourbon, craft beer, and wine with live music.
Visit: eventbrite.com

Boots & Bourbon Songwriters Festival (October 11)
Enjoy Nashville-style songwriter showcases paired with Kentucky bourbon.
Visit: bootsandbourbonky.com

Why Stay in Spencer County: Affordable Lodging on the Bourbon Trail

Located between Louisville, Bardstown, and Lawrenceburg, Spencer County is the ideal basecamp for exploring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

•  Central Location: Quick access to distilleries like Maker’s Mark, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey.

•  Scenic Countryside: Peaceful surroundings perfect for relaxing between events.

•  Budget-Friendly Lodging: More affordable than Bardstown or Louisville hotels.

Explore our Spencer County travel guide for lodging options and local attractions.

Travel Tips for Bourbon Season in Kentucky

•  Book accommodations early—fall festivals fill up fast.

•  Use shuttle services or designate a driver for safe travel.

•  Check age restrictions (most events are 21+).

•  Pack layers—Kentucky’s fall weather can be unpredictable.

Plan Your Kentucky Bourbon Trail Itinerary

From high-energy music festivals to intimate tastings, fall bourbon events in Kentucky offer unforgettable experiences. With Spencer County lodging, you can enjoy it all without breaking the bank.

Looking for more travel inspiration, check out the Bourbon, Horse, & History Region of Kentucky!

March 2026 Issue

One of the quiet joys of traveling through Spencer County is the way faith, history, and architecture are woven into the landscape. From hilltop brick sanctuaries to beloved little white country churches, our communities of worship tell stories of settlement, perseverance, and generations gathering week after week.

Faith, Memory, and Music in the Kentucky Landscape

Country and gospel music have long returned to the image of the small country church — white against green hills, where voices gathered and lives were marked by weddings, funerals, baptisms, and Sunday hymns. Even modern country music, especially Taylorsville native J.D. Shelburne’s reflects the same emotional landscape: faith, hometown pride, memory, and community.

Traditional gospel songs such as “Little White Church” have carried this imagery for generations, while modern country music has continued to draw on the same symbol. The phrase endures not because of color or size, but because it represents belonging, familiarity, and the idea of home.

Whether you are visiting for the weekend, returning home, or simply taking the scenic route, Spencer County’s churches offer a glimpse into our past and a warm welcome in the present.

Below is a guide to Sunday worship opportunities followed by an overview of our churches by denomination, including architectural character and whether a church fits the classic “little white church” tradition so many people cherish.

Sunday Worship in Spencer County (by Service Time)

• 8:00 a.m.
  • All Saints Catholic Church, Taylorsville.
    • Roman Catholic.
    • A Gothic Revival brick church built between 1830 and 1843, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 8:30 a.m.
  • Redemption Hill Baptist Church, Fisherville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A modern brick sanctuary designed for contemporary worship and family gatherings.
• 8:45 a.m.
  • River View Baptist Church, Cox’s Creek.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A mid‑century brick church with a traditional gable roof.
• 8:45 a.m.
  • First Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A historic congregation with a classic steepled sanctuary and later community additions.
• 9:00 a.m.
  • Kings Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A mid‑century brick worship hall serving a growing congregation.
• 9:45 a.m.
  • Bethlehem Baptist Church, Mt. Eden.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A stone sanctuary dating to the early 20th century, set beside a historic cemetery, with roots reaching back to the early 1800s.
• 9:45 a.m.
  • Little Mount Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A classic white frame chapel with a steeple, established in the late 1800s.
    • Little white church
• 9:45 a.m.
  • Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Campbranch), Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A rural frame church with a light exterior and traditional country appearance.
    • Little white church
• 9:45 a.m.
  • Ridgeview Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A modern church building with contemporary design elements.
• 10:00 a.m.
  • St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Fairfield.
    • Roman Catholic.
    • A brick, Gothic‑influenced church completed in 1883; one of the oldest Catholic parishes west of the Allegheny Mountains.
    • Not actually in Spencer County, but very close to the county line in Nelson County.
  • Elk Creek Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A historic brick church with a green steeple, featuring a sanctuary dating to the late 1800s and later additions.
  • Elk Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Independent Missionary Baptist.
    • A modest wood‑frame country church.
    • Little white church
  • Little Union Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A traditional white rural frame church serving its community for generations.
    • Little white church
  • Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Mt. Eden area.
    • Southern Baptist Convention (local affiliation).
    • A traditional rural frame church reflecting mid‑20th‑century country design.
    • Little white church
  • Plum Creek Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A white frame church with a tall steeple, set beside its cemetery.
    • Little white church
• 11:00 a.m.
  • Second Baptist Church (Historic Second), Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A small historic chapel with a steeply pitched roof, originally built as Minor Chapel and later adapted.
    • Little white church
  • Taylorsville United Methodist Church, Taylorsville.
    • United Methodist.
    • A Greek Revival‑inspired brick church founded in 1833 and renovated in the late 20th century.
    • Little white church: No.
  • Risen Lord Lutheran Church, Taylorsville.
    • Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
    • A contemporary worship building constructed in the 21st century.

Churches of Spencer County by Denomination

Southern Baptist Convention churches range from large brick sanctuaries like First Baptist, Kings Baptist, Elk Creek Baptist, and Redemption Hill, to some of the county’s most beloved little white churches, including Little Mount Baptist, Little Union Baptist, Mt. Moriah Baptist, Plum Creek Baptist, Second Baptist (Historic Second), Wakefield Baptist, and likely Mt. Zion Baptist (Campbranch).

Independent Missionary Baptist representation includes Elk Creek Missionary Baptist Church, a modest wood‑frame rural chapel that fits squarely within the little white church tradition.

United Methodist presence is represented by Taylorsville United Methodist Church, a historic brick church dating to the early 19th century.

Lutheran worship in Spencer County is found at Risen Lord Lutheran Church, a modern congregation with contemporary facilities.

Roman Catholic churches include All Saints Catholic Church in Taylorsville, a Gothic Revival brick landmark from the early 1800s, and St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Fairfield, a brick Gothic‑influenced church built in 1883 with deep roots in early Kentucky Catholic history.

A Place for Everyone

From nationally significant historic churches to quiet white chapels tucked along country roads, Spencer County’s churches are more than buildings. They are living landmarks — places where music lingered after the final hymn, where roads led home, and where visitors are still welcomed today.

Event Attendance Info Here!

Welcome to the America250 Little Miss Liberty Spencer County Contest!

This fun and patriotic contest celebrates creativity, pride, and the voices of our young girls (ages 0-12) in Spencer County. Contestants should live or go to school in Spencer County. There is no formal live pageant — just submit a photo, a short video (30 seconds or less), and join us for the live winner reveal on July 4th at 4pm in the Main tent on Main Street in Taylorsville, KY!

Age Categories (Age on July 4, 2026)

• Tiny Miss Liberty (0–4)
• Mini Miss Liberty (5–8)
• Little Miss Liberty (9–12)

There will be one winner for each category, and one overall winner. There are no prizes and no participation gifts. There will be a certificate for each winner and the pride of being recognized in front of their community.

How to Participate

1. Upload Patriotic Photo (REQUIRED) JPG or PNG only. Please upload one clear full body photo of the contestant in her most patriotic outfit or theme.
2. Upload the link to your 30 second or less, unlisted YouTube 30‑Second Video: “What Freedom Means to Me” (REQUIRED) Double check video viewing permissions before you submit. Tips: Have a friend check by sending the link to them. Try to keep your child’s face the main focus of the video. The video does not need to be fancy, just genuine.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS MIDNIGHT JUNE 4, 2026!

SUBMIT YOUR CONTESTANT HERE!

Civil War Spencer County: Sites, Stories, Cemeteries & the Buffalo Soldier From Little Mount

Spencer County’s Civil War era lives on in roadside markers, church steeples, quiet cemeteries, and in the brief but remarkable life of a Buffalo Soldier whose headstone still stands in Little Mount. This guide takes visitors from downtown Taylorsville to the rural ridges where history survives in stone, soil, and story.

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1) Downtown Taylorsville: Markers That Tell the War

The Courthouse Burned (January 1865)

A historical marker on the courthouse lawn explains how guerrillas set fire to the Spencer County Courthouse during one of the final, chaotic months of the Civil War. Federal scouts pursued the raiders toward Mt. Eden the next morning, but the courthouse was lost—though its records survived.

All Saints Catholic Church (Established 1830)

Just a short walk from the courthouse stands All Saints Catholic Church, Spencer County’s only Catholic parish. Founded in the 1830s, the parish witnessed the courthouse burning and remains one of the county’s oldest continuously active religious institutions.

Local tradition: Parishioners have long repeated this story. The night of the Courthouse burning by Confederate raiders, the city fathers were meeting within All Saints Catholic Church. Somehow they recieved word that the courthouse was to be attacked and so they all ran to collect the record books from the hall. As they ran back to the church with their arms full of papers and books the raiders arrived and because to chase them with bulltefire! A stray bullet struck the church steeple! While the story is not formally documented, it remains one of the community’s most enduring tales and can be verified by the staff at the church. It was just a legend until the original steeple was damaged in a storm. The steeple was taken down and rebuilt on the front of the church. As this was done, a civil war bullet was indeed found and was interred in the structure as it was rebuilt.

Guerrilla Quantrill in Wakefield

Five miles south of Taylorsville, a wayside on KY‑55 marks the spot where William Clarke Quantrill—the infamous guerrilla leader—was ambushed in May 1865. He attempted to flee, was shot and paralyzed, and taken into custody.

How Quantrill reached Louisville:
After being wounded in the Wakefield ambush, Quantrill was carried under military guard to the U.S. Military Prison Hospital in Louisville, where he died on June 6, 1865. No surviving documentation specifies how he was transported (wagon, ambulance, or otherwise), only that he was captured in Spencer County and died in Louisville several weeks later.

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2) Cemeteries: Where Civil War‑Era Kentuckians Rest

Spencer County’s cemeteries preserve the lives of frontier settlers, enslaved and free African Americans, and families divided by the war. Many of these resting places sit on rural hillsides or behind churches that still serve their communities today.

• Little Mount Colored Cemetery (Little Mount) — Historic African American cemetery and burial site of Buffalo Soldier Lewis T. Baker.
• Little Mount Cemetery — Adjacent to the Colored Cemetery, with numerous 19th‑century burials.
• Pleasant Union Cemetery (Little Mount) — A small rural cemetery historically associated with the Little Mount community.
• Elk Creek Baptist Church Cemetery — One of the county’s larger traditional cemeteries.
• Riverview Baptist Church Cemetery — Located along Louisville Road in the Cox’s Creek area near the county line.
• Briar Ridge Christian Church Cemetery — A historic cemetery on the eastern side of the county near Taylorsville Lake.
• Valley Cemetery (Taylorsville) — The city’s principal cemetery, located one mile west of town.
• Patrick McGee Pioneer Cemetery (Waterford) — A small pioneer cemetery containing some of the county’s earliest settlers.
• Carlin Family Cemetery (Normandy) — A private family burial ground on rural property east of the Normandy community.
• Yoder Farm Cemetery — A small private or semi‑private family cemetery without published coordinates.

The Old Taylorsville (Pioneer) Cemetery
Historic narrative accounts describe early burials here from the 1830s onward. African American burials were historically located on the southern slope while white burials clustered toward the west. Over the decades the cemetery saw damage, vandalism, and neglect, though local efforts have periodically restored portions of the grounds.

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3) Spotlight: Buffalo Soldier Lewis T. Baker (1887–1910)

Lewis T. Baker was born in Spencer County in January 1887 to A.B. (“Oscar”) Baker and Mary Avery Baker. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1909 and was assigned to Troop M of the 10th U.S. Cavalry, one of the original “Buffalo Soldier” regiments.

His body was returned home and buried in Little Mount Colored Cemetery, where his headstone reads:

“L.E.W.I.S. T. B.A.K.E.R.
CO. M.
10 U.S. CAV.”

His story links Spencer County directly to the national history of African American military service.

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4) Notable 19th‑Century Figures of Spencer County

Richard Taylor – Founder of Taylorsville

In 1799, Richard Taylor donated 60 acres at the fork of Brashear’s Creek and the Salt River to establish Taylorsville. Early trustees included Robert Jeffries, George Cravinston, Philip W. Taylor, and Benjamin Bourne.

Captain Spier Spencer – County Namesake

Spier Spencer, leader of the Kentucky “Yellow Jackets,” was killed in the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe. Spencer County, founded in 1824, honors his name.

George Gilmore Gilbert (1849–1909)

Born in Taylorsville, Gilbert became a lawyer, served as Spencer County’s prosecuting attorney, then in the Kentucky State Senate, and represented Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives for four consecutive terms (1899–1907).

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5) Self‑Guided Heritage Tour (Half‑Day)

1. Courthouse Lawn (Downtown Taylorsville): Begin with the “Courthouse Burned” marker.
2. All Saints Catholic Church: Walk uphill to the church built in the 1830s and explore parish history.
3. Wakefield (KY‑55): Visit the Quantrill ambush marker.
4. Little Mount: Explore the Little Mount Colored Cemetery (Lewis T. Baker’s grave), Little Mount Cemetery, and surrounding ridge‑top community.

6) Enjoy our Google Earth tour!

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APPENDIX: Sites, Addresses & Coordinates

Below is the fully compiled list of all locations used in the blog post.

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A. Markers & Churches

Taylorsville Courthouse / “Courthouse Burned” Marker

Address: 2 W Main St, Taylorsville, KY 40071

All Saints Catholic Church

Address: 410 Main Cross St, Taylorsville, KY 40071

Guerrilla Quantrill Marker (Wakefield)

Address: KY‑55, approximately 0.3 miles south of Greens Lane, Wakefield, KY
Coordinates: 37.97225, –85.31032

Felix G. Stidger Marker (“The Spy Who Saved the Union”)

Address: Downtown Taylorsville on Garrard Street

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B. Cemeteries

Little Mount Colored Cemetery

Address: Little Mount Rd, Little Mount, KY
Coordinates: 38.08412, –85.26735

Little Mount Cemetery

Address: Little Mount Rd, Little Mount, KY
Coordinates: 38.085337, –85.2680053

Pleasant Union Cemetery (Little Mount)

Address: Little Mount community (rural)
Coordinates: Not published

Elk Creek Baptist Church Cemetery

Address: Elk Creek, KY 40071
Coordinates: 38.09567, –85.36980

Riverview Baptist Church Cemetery

Address: 1850 Louisville Rd, Cox’s Creek, KY 40013
Coordinates: 37.99800, –85.48810

Briar Ridge Christian Church Cemetery

Address: Briar Ridge Rd, Spencer County, KY
Coordinates: 38.02120, –85.20800

Valley Cemetery (Taylorsville)

Address: KY‑44, approximately 1 mile west of Taylorsville
Coordinates: 38.029778, –85.362726

Getting to Spencer County, Kentucky

Welcome to rolling hills, small‑town charm, and the warmest hospitality in the region! No matter which direction you’re traveling from, getting to Spencer County is easy and scenic.

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From the North (Louisville & Beyond)

• Take I‑64 East toward Shelbyville.
• Exit onto KY‑55 South toward Taylorsville.
• Continue on KY‑55 until you reach the heart of Spencer County and Taylorsville.

Tip for guests: This is the prettiest approach—great views of farmland and horses along the way.

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From the South (Bardstown, Lebanon, or I‑65 Corridor)

• Take US‑31E North toward Bloomfield.
• Turn onto KY‑55 North toward Taylorsville.
• Follow KY‑55 straight into Spencer County.

This route takes you through historic small towns and classic bourbon-country scenery.

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From the East (Lawrenceburg, Frankfort, Lexington)

• From Lexington, take Bluegrass Parkway westbound.
• Exit onto KY‑55 North toward Taylorsville.
• Stay on KY‑55 until you arrive in Spencer County.

This is the smoothest, most direct path for anyone coming from Central or Eastern Kentucky.

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From the West (Shepherdsville, Mt. Washington, Louisville South)

• From Louisville, take KY‑155 (Taylorsville Road) southeast toward Taylorsville.
• Continue straight—you’ll enter Spencer County near the Elk Creek area.
• Keep following KY‑155 until you reach Taylorsville Lake and downtown.

This route is great for day‑trippers heading straight to the lake or the winery.

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Local Note for Visitors

Most roads into Spencer County lead straight into either:

• Taylorsville (our county seat)
• Taylorsville Lake (our outdoor gem!)
• Elk Creek (home to vineyards, farms, and event spaces)

GPS does well here, but Kentucky backroads are… charmingly quirky. Written directions help a LOT.