The 12 best things to do in and around Lexington this weekend
Here is a Lexington list and guide of the best weekend events around Central Kentucky on Friday, Saturday and Sunday if you are bored and need things to do from live music concerts, comedy shows, theatre plays, bourbon festivals and Halloween events like the popular PumpkinMania at Transy, Scarefest and Lexington’s Thriller Parade.
Scarefest at the Central Bank Center
The three-day Scarefest Horror and Paranormal Convention returns to downtown Lexington in the bigger, newly renovated Central Bank Center and with a film festival across the street in the new state-of-the-art movie theater, LexLive! Plus organizers arranged for the convention to end just in time for the popular Thriller Parade down Main Street. Events for all things horror, paranormal, creepy and macabre begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 22 and 23 and 11 a.m. Oct. 24. The final day is Kids Day, where children 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets are $25 Friday and Sunday, $30 Saturday, $50 Saturday/Sunday Admission; $65 Three-Day Admission. thescarefest.com
Jeremiah Watkins at Comedy Off Broadway
Jeremiah Watkins will perform four shows at Comedy Off Broadway on Oct. 22 and 23. Show times are on Oct. 22 and 23 at 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. Tickets are $14-16. 161 Lexington Green Cir #C4. ComedyOffBroadway.com.
Robert Finley from ‘America’s Got Talent’ in concert at the Lyric
Robert Finley, a blind Vietnam War veteran and semi-finalist on season 14 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” will perform at the Lyric Theatre on Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. His album “Sharecropper’s Son” was released earlier this year and was produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, who called Finley “the greatest soul singer alive.” Tickets are $27. 300 E Third St. LexingtonLyric.com.
Dillon Carmichael concert at Manchester Music Hall
Burgin, Ky. native Dillon Carmichael will perform at Manchester Music Hall on Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. with support from Hannah Dasher. Tickets are $25. 899 Manchester St. ManchesterMusicHall.com.
YMCA Trunk Or Treat
Whitaker Family YMCA is hosting a “Trunk Or Treat” event on Oct. 23 from 2-4 p.m. with inflatables for kids, a costume contest, a pumpkin decorating contest, a trunk decorating contest and more. 2681 Old Rosebud Rd. YmcaCky.org.
Lexington Children’s Theatre play: The Little Mermaid
The Lexington Children’s Theatre will host five presentations of “The Little Mermaid” from Oct. 23-30. Adapted by Mike Kenny, the show is best enjoyed by children five and older. Show times are at 2 and 7 p.m. on Oct. 23, 2 and 6 p.m. on Oct. 24 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 30. Tickets are $15-20 with the 7 p.m. show on Oct. 23 being a “Pay What You Will” performance. 418 W Short St. LctOnStage.org.
Bourbon On The Banks festival in Frankfort
Enjoy a variety of bourbons from regional and nationally known distilleries along the banks of the Kentucky River during the Bourbon On The Banks festival in downtown Frankfort on Oct. 23 from 3-7 p.m. Activities include live music, food trucks, samples of rare and unique bourbons, spirits, wines and beers; and more. Tickets are $65. A rare bourbon auction will be held the night before, Oct. 22 from 6-9 p.m., at the Kentucky History Center. The event includes food from Fork, Knife and Spoon Catering along with special bourbon tastings. Tickets are $100 for general admission or $155 for access to the auction and festival. 1205 127 South, Frankfort. BourbonOnTheBanks.org.
Claudette King concert at the Lyric Theatre
Claudette King, the youngest daughter of bluesmaster B.B. King, will return to Lexington’s Lyric Theatre on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. The show, also a celebration marking the 11 year anniversary of the Lyric Theatre’s reopening, will kick off with a performance from Frankfort-based jazz vocalist Kemba Cofield. Tickets are $32. 300 E Third St. LexingtonLyric.com.
Jason Aldean concert at Rupp Arena
Country music star Jason Aldean will bring his “Back In The Saddle” tour to Rupp Arena on Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. with support from Hardy, Lainey Wilson and Dee Jay Silver. Tickets start at $29. 430 W Vine St. RuppArena.com.
Jason Aldean riding wave of headlines, new songs into Rupp Arena concert
Transy’s PumpkinMania
Transylvania University’s PumpkinMania will return to the liberal art college’s campus on Oct. 24 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Pumpkins carved during that time will be part of a jack-o-lantern display viewable nightly from Oct. 25-28. Participation is free but registration is required in advance. 300 N Broadway. Eventbrite.com.
Mummy cupcake decorating class
Local baker Miss Delaney Cakes is hosting a mummy cupcake decorating class at Pivot Brewing on Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person and includes materials to make four cupcakes along with one drink ticket. 1400 Delaware Ave. Eventbrite.com.
Lexington Halloween Festival and Thriller Parade
Lexington’s renowned Halloween Festival and Thriller Parade returns to the streets of downtown on Oct. 24 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. The Thriller Parade, a reenactment featuring several hundred zombies dancing, dawdling and dragging themselves to the classic Michael Jackson tune, will begin on Main Street at Quality and Mill Streets at 7 p.m. The event is free to attend. LexingtonKy.gov/Halloween.
Matt Wickstrom is a freelancer covering food, music and more. You can follow him on Instagram at @WickstromWrites .
