Events & Entertainment

January

Keeneland Horse Sales

Held in mid January

Location: Keeneland Race Course

800-456-3412

Horses of all ages are available for purchase.

February

Kentucky Sport, Boat and Recreation Show

Held in early February

Location: Rupp Arena

859-233-4567

A complete selection for the enthusiast.

March

Danville Heritage Festival

Held in early March

Location: Danville High School

800-755-0076

An event that celebrates the heritages of the many ethnic groups in the Boyle County area; among them Japanese, Native American, and African American, as well as European. Enjoy ethnic food, plays, music and creative dance, children's arts and crafts.

Lexington Antiques & Garden Show

Held in mid March

Location: Keene Barn @ Keeneland

859-253-0362

The Blue Grass for Historic Preservation sponsors this show featuring over 40 distinguished antique dealers and garden specialists.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Held in mid March

Location: Downtown Lexington

859-278-7349

Leprechauns and shamrocks can be spotted on Lexington's Main Street during this parade through downtown.

Bluegrass State Winter Games

Held in mid March

Location: Varies throughout the county

859-255-0336

Flag football, indoor soccer and volleyball are played at various Lexington locations.

Central Kentucky Home & Garden Show

Held in late March

Location: Lexington Center

859-233-4567

Everything for the home as well as the garden.

April

International Kite and Cultural Festival

Held in mid April

Location: Georgetown

502-863-1575

Kite competitions, classes and nonstop cultural entertainment.

Keeneland Two – Year Olds in Training Sale

Held in mid April

859-254-3412

The April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale was inaugurated in 1993 to meet the growing demand of owners wishing to purchase racehorses already in training.

Rolex Kentucky Three – Day Event

Held in late April

Location: Kentucky Horse Park

Featuring the only Four Star Three-Day Event in the Americas. The weekend additionally offers an international trade fair, various demonstrations and exhibitions.

May

Kentucky Derby Simulcast

Held in early May

Location: Keeneland Race Course

800-456-3412

Festivities include live music, pony rides, free popcorn, and much more.

Mayfest Art Fair

Held in mid May

Location: Gratz Park/Transylvania University

859-231-7335

Celebration performing, visual and literary arts.

Kentucky Guild of Artists & Craftsmen Spring Fair

Held in mid May

Location: Memorial Park/Berea

859-986-3192

Exquisite works by over 100 regional artists and craftsmen, live music, dance and demonstrations. Memorial Park is located at the corner of Jefferson and South Broadway, Berea.

High Hope Steeplechase

Held in mid May

Location: Kentucky Horse Park

859-255-5727

Sanctioned races over brush and timber.

Kentucky High School Invitational Rodeo

Held in late May

Location: Kentucky Horse Park

859-484-2214

Some of the best athletes in America compete over three days.

June

Highway 68-80 Sale

Held in early June

Location: Paducah to Maysville

800-755-0076

400 miles (across Kentucky's historic 68/80) of antiques, collectibles & stuff.

Annual Egyptian Event

Held in early June

Location: Kentucky Horse Park

859-231-0771

Featuring Egyptian Arabians in performance, halter, dressage and native costume competitions.

Festival of the Bluegrass

Held in early – mid June

Location: Kentucky Horse Park Campground

859-846-4995

Annual jamboree featuring some of the best Bluegrass music in Kentucky and top national performers. 

Suburban Woman’s Club Horse Farm Tours

Held in mid June

Location: Keeneland Sales Pavilion

859-243-0338

Four-hour bus tour takes in a number of well known thoroughbred horse farms.

Great American Brass and Festival

Held in mid June

Location: Centre College/Danville

800-755-0076

July

Lexington Shakespeare Festival

Held in early – mid July

Location: U.K. Arboretum

859-257-4829

Berea Craft Festival

Held in early July

Location: Indian Ft. Theater

800-598-5263

A national showcase in celebration of handcrafted heritage.

Woodland Jubilee

Held in early July

Location: Woodland Park

859-288-2925

Known as one of the region’s great music festivals.

Lexington Junior League Horse Show

Held in mid July

Location: Red Mile Harness Track

859-252-1893

One of the nation’s largest outdoor Saddle bred horse shows.

Lexington Lions’ Club Bluegrass Fair

Held in mid – late July

Location: Masterson Station Park

859-233-1465

Grandstand shows include demolition derbies, motocross races, petting farm, truck and tractor pulls and more.  Over 50 carnival rides, games and shows.

Keeneland July Selected Yearling Sales

Held in mid July

Location: Keeneland Sales Pavilion

800-456-3412

The annual event attracts buyers from all over the world and spectators are welcome.

Bluegrass State Summer Games

Held in late July

Location: Various locations throughout the city

859-255-0336

From water sports to bowling, chess to gymnastics.  This is one of Kentucky’s largest amateur sports events.

BreyerFest

Held in late July

Location: Kentucky Horse Park

973-633-5090

Discover the world of Breyer model horses including competitions, clinics and a trade fair. 

August

Ballet Under the Stars

Held in early August

Location: Woodland Park

859-288-2925

Stretch out under the stars for an evening of dance presented by professional quality dancers.

Highway 127 Corridor Sale

Held in early August

Location: Covington, Kentucky to Gadsden, Alabama

931-879-9948

Enjoy a 450-mile adventure. Covington, KY is the starting point...and the roadside bargains extend south to Alabama.

Woodland Arts Fair

Held in mid August

Location: Woodland Park

859-254-7024

More than 150 artists and crafts people participate in this fresh air art fair.

September

Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Held in mid – late September

Location: Keeneland Race Course

859-254-3412

This sale attracts buyers from all over the world.  Spectators welcome.

Historic Constitution Square Festival

Held in mid September

Location:  Constitution Square/Danville

800-755-0076

Admission Free

Kentucky's historic past, circa 1780-1820, can be seen at this quality arts and craft festival which features 75 exhibitors showcasing the best of local and Kentucky culture with living history encampments and regional entertainers.

Museum Go-Round

Held in late September

Location: Short Street, downtown Lexington

859-258-3256

Art festival for and by young people.

October

Forkland Heritage Festival

Held in early October

Location: Gravel Switch, Kentucky

859-332-7839

Termed "the only true folk festival in Kentucky", this is an opportunity to experience the folksy atmosphere of the "Fork" and its people.

Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen Fall Fair

Held in early October

Location: Indian Ft. Theater, Berea

859-986-2540

Regional artists display their works and wares at this outdoor festival.

Perryville Battlefield Re-enactment and Commemoration

Held in early October

Location: Perryville Battlefield

800-755-0076

The re-enactment events are held on 600 acres of pristine Battlefield site, as well as in the historic town of Perryville, where Merchants Row stands much as it did in 1862 when the Confederate and Union armies clashed on October 8, 1862.

November

Farmers’ Market

Held in early November

Location: West Vine Street

859-548-3516

Fruits and vegetables, herbs, flowers, jams and jellies, honey, Kentucky specialties and more.

Annual Pouring for the Pantry Open House

Held in early November

Location: Equus Run Vineyards

859-846-9463

Bring two or more nonperishable food items to be donated to God's Pantry Food Bank and receive a complimentary wine tasting.  Taste the newest wine releases, sample scrumptious nibbles and enjoy live music. 

Snowbird Dressage

Held in early November

Location: Kentucky Horse Park

850-846-4889

Winter series of indoor dressage competition.

Southern Lights Stroll/5K Run

Held in mid November

Location: Kentucky Horse Park

859-259-4219

Walk, run or stroll through 3.1 miles the dazzling Southern Lights display.

Candlelight Tour

Held in mid November

Location: Kentucky History Center

859-564-1792

The Kentucky History Center comes alive with seasonal sights and sounds for this annual event.

Downtown Holiday Magic

Held in mid November

Location: Georgetown, Kentucky

502-863-5424

Kick off the holiday season in the heart of Georgetown with open houses, in-store specials, caroling, and lighting of the downtown Christmas tree. Photos and visits with Santa, book signing, storytelling, and children's activities.

Southern Lights

Held mid – late November

Location: Kentucky Horse Park

859-255-5727

A Southeast Tourism Top 20 Events Winner. Animated light displays are arranged along a drive-at-your-own pace 4-mile route through the Park.

Lexington Christmas Tree Lighting

Held in late November

Location: Triangle Park

859-258-3123

Annual tree lighting with activities beginning at 5:45 p.m.   After the event, downtown hosts live music, ice sculptures, carriage rides, holiday and storybook characters and more.

Jewelry, Christmas decorations, clothing, crafts, pottery, Santa and much more.

Kenny Woods Gun and Knife Show

Held in late November

Location: Lexington Convention Center

859-233-4567

Winter Trade Days at the Fort

Held in late November

Location: Fort Boonesborough

859-527-3131

Eighteenth century merchants and traders again "set up shops" in the cabins and blockhouses of the Fort. A perfect opportunity for 18th Century Christmas shopping while learning about the material culture of the Kentucky Frontier.

Keeneland Arts Fair

Held in late November

Location: Keene Barn @ Keeneland

859-288-2925

This juried arts fair will feature 90 of the area's finest artists and craftsmen. Shoppers can expect to see the highest quality, handcrafted items consisting of pottery, painting, metal works, glass works, fiber, weaving, photography and much more.

December

Amerson Farm Christmas Tree Festival

Held most of December

Location: Amerson Farm, Georgetown, Kentucky

502-863-3799

Wreath making demonstrations, photo opportunities, gift baskets, drawing for free wreath and Christmas tree.

Southern Lights

Held all of December

Location: Kentucky Horse Park

859-255-5727

A Southeast Tourism Top 20 Events Winner. Animated light displays are arranged along a drive-at-your-own pace 4-mile route through the Park.

Lexington Christmas Parade

Held in early December

Location: Downtown Lexington

850-231-7335

One of the largest Christmas parades in the Commonwealth.

Holiday Express

Held in early December

Location: Woodford County Park

859-873-2476

Climb aboard the Bluegrass Scenic Railway for a scenic holiday train excursion past holiday scenes, elves and Bluegrass countryside. The 45-minute excursions leave from Woodford County Park at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Candlelight Tour of Ashland and Ashland Park Neighborhood Homes

Held in mid December

Location: Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate

859-266-8581

The mansion is beautifully backlit with candles and lanterns.  Five beautiful homes all within walking distance of Ashland, in the surrounding historic Ashland Park Neighborhood, will be open for touring as well. Hot cider and sweets are served in the charming circa 1846 Grounds Keeper's Cottage on the grounds of the estate.

Entertainment

The Lexington Ballet

161 North Mill Street

Lexington, Kentucky 40507

859-233-3925

The Lexington Ballet is a not-for-profit organization celebrating the highest quality ballet performances in the region and operating Central Kentucky's only pre-professional ballet school.

Lexington Opera House

430 West Vine Street
Lexington, KY  40507
859-233-4567

Enjoy Broadway and more at this historic theater. Originally built in 1886 and renovated in 1976, The Lexington Opera House is naturally an ideal setting for all kinds of performing arts events with complete technical services available.  The theater house seats approximately 1,000 (depending on technical needs) with orchestra level (main floor) and two balconies.

Lexington Opera Company

1010 McClain Dr
Lexington, KY 40505

859-231-6994

Experience opera at its best.

Lexington Philharmonic
161 North Mill Street
Lexington, Kentucky 40507
859-233-4226

Experience all that classical music represents. The term "classical music" can represent anything from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony to a Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto. Hear wonderful music played by a symphonic ensemble comprised of strings (violins, violas, cellos and basses), woodwinds (clarinets, oboes, flutes and bassoons), brass (trumpets, French horns, trombones and tubas) and percussion (drums, xylophones and bells).

The Kentucky Theatre

214 East Main St.

Lexington, KY 40507

859-231-6997 

The Kentucky Theater, constructed in 1921-22, was designed and constructed prior to the influences of the "exotic" styles popularized by prestigious theater architects George and C.W. Rapp, John Eberson and Thomas Lamb for their movie palaces and houses constructed after 1925. Though never a movie palace by national standards, the Kentucky Theater remains as Lexington's largest and only surviving grand movie theater from the Golden Age.

Sports

University of Kentucky

740 S Limestone

Lexington, KY 40536

859-323-5694

Virtually every major sport is played at the University.  Call for complete schedule.