The 21 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 and festivals plus benefit shows for Eastern Kentucky flood relief, comedy shows, concert series, 5k runs theatre plays, musicals, vendor shopping fairs, small town festivals or art shows.
Sip and Shop vendor fair at the Lexington Distillery District
Kentucky Pop-Ups is hosting a Sip and Shop pop-up market in the Distillery District on Aug. 12 from 5-9 p.m. with a plethora of local vendors along with live music, food and more. The event is free to attend. 1170 Manchester St. facebook.com/events/561100415690577.
First Friday Berea Concert Series: Joslyn & The Sweet Compression
Joslyn & The Sweet Compression and Madison Brass will perform during the free-to-attend “First Friday Berea” concert series at The Berea Skate Park on Aug. 12 from 6:30-9 p.m. Vendors, food trucks, kids activities and more will also be accessible on site. 400 N Broadway, Berea. FirstFridayBerea.com.
Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline Tribute at Pioneer Playhouse in Danville
Tribute artists Barry Lockard and Nathalie Berry will pay homage to the life and music of Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline with a joint performance at the Pioneer Playhouse in Danville on Aug. 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. Adult tickets are $36 for the dinner and show and $20 for the show only, which begins at 8:30 p.m. 840 Stanford Rd, Danville. PioneerPlayhouse.com.
Comedians Chris Franjola, Heather Land at Comedy Off Broadway
Comedians Chris Franjola and Heather Land will each perform at Comedy Off Broadway between Aug. 12 and 14. Franjola’s shows will take place on Aug. 12 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Aug. 13 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with tickets costing $13-16. Land’s shows are on Aug. 13 at 3:30 p.m. and Aug. 14 at 2:30. Tickets to her shows are $30-75. 161 Lexington Green Cir #C4. ComedyOffBroadway.com.
Summer Nights In Suburbia concert series at Moondance Amphitheater
Nashville and Lexington based rock’n roll trio DeeOhGee will perform during the next installment of the free “Summer Nights In Suburbia” concert series at Moondance Amphitheater on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. 1152 Monarch St. LexingtonKy.gov/Summer-Nights-Suburbia.
Northside Nights concert series at Castlewood Park
Benny J & Friends will perform during a rescheduled iteration of the city’s free “Northside Nights” concert series at Castlewood Park on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. The show previously rained out on July 8. 201 Castlewood Dr. LexingtonkKy.gov/Northside-Nights.
Music guide: Best outdoor summer concert series at Lexington parks, amphitheaters
Theatre: ‘The Addams Family’ at the Leeds Center For The Arts in Winchester
The Leeds Center For The Arts in Winchester will present musical comedy “The Addams Family” nine times through Aug. 28. This weekend’s show times are on Aug. 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 14 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets start at $18. 37 N Main St, Winchester. LeedsCenter.org.
Bendigo Fletcher Concert at The Virginia Theatre in Somerset
Somerset’s recently renovated and reopened Virginia Theatre will host Louisville rock band Bendigo Fletcher and hometown songwriter Spooky Fox on Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. 214 E Mt. Vernon St, Somerset. facebook.com/events/374186051348817.
Small Town America Festival in Mt. Sterling
The Small Town America Festival will take place on the streets of Mt. Sterling on Aug. 13 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Activities include a 5K, car show, talent show, cornhole tournament, farmers market, paint the small town, and more. The event is free to attend. 124 N Maysville St, Mt. Sterling. mtsterlingtourism.com/event/small-town-america-festival.
Cold Brew Coffee Festival at Fifth Third Pavillion
Sample and a variety of local cold brew coffees, cold brew mocktails and more during the Cold Brew Coffee Festival at Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park’s Fifth Third Pavillion on Aug. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 251 W Main St. ColdBrewCoffeeFestival.com.
Hosel Rocket Scramble at Tates Creek Golf Course
The second annual Hosel Rocket Scramble benefiting Veterans Club Ky. and produced by Veteran-owned company Untd We Stnd will take place at the Tates Creek Golf Course on Aug. 13 at 9 a.m. Tickets are $100 for individuals and $400 for teams. 1400 Gainesway Dr. UntdWeStnd.com.
Bourbon Jam Music Festival at the Richmond Mall
David Lee Murphy, author of country music hits like “Dust On The Bottle,” “Big Green Tractor” and “Living In Fast Forward,” will headline the Bourbon Jam Music Festival happening outside the Richmond Mall on Aug. 13 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Other artists performing include Aaron Boyd, Hannah Wheeler, Magnolia Vale and Clarke Sexton, among others. Tickets are $22-50 for adults 13 and older and $5 for children 6-12. 830 Eastern Byp, Richmond. BourbonJam.com.
Art, Garden + Maker’s Market at Springhouse Gardens in Nicholasville
The second annual Art, Garden, + Maker’s Market will take place at Springhouse Gardens in Nicholasville on Aug. 13 from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. with dozens of local makers, food and wine vendors, and more. The event is free to attend. 185 W Catnip Hill Rd, Nicholasville. SpringhouseGardens.com.
The Drunken Flea Market at The Burl
The Drunken Flea market will return to The Burl with over 50 vendors on Aug. 13 from 12-8 p.m. The event is free to attend. 375 Thompson Rd. WearhouseKy.com/DrunkenFlea.
Really Really Free Market at Duncan Park
The Really Really Free Market, a mutual aid event where anyone can bring anything and take anything free of charge, will take place at Duncan Park on Aug. 13. From 1-4 p.m. 530 N Limestone. facebook.com/events/728124161514013.
A Midsummer Night’s Run 5K through downtown Lexington
A Midsummer Night’s Run 5K, and “Fastest Kid In Town” races return to the streets of Downtown Lexington on Aug. 13 from 4:30-8:15 p.m. Tickets are $25-30 for the 5K and $15 for the kids’ run. 120 N Limestone. RunSignUp.com.
‘From The Front Porch’ Jazz Series with the Craig Bailey Quartet
The Craig Bailey Quartet will perform during the final installment of the “From The Front Porch” Jazz Series at the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden on Aug. 13 from 5-7 p.m. The event is free to attend. 577 E Third St. PhoenixRisingLex.org.
Lexington Philharmonic Picnic With The Pops at Keeneland
Picnic With The Pops will return to Keeneland on Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. with “Dancing In The Streets - The Music Of Motown” with hits from Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and more from the Lexington Philharmonic. Tickets are $25-50. 4201 Versailles Rd. LexPops.com.
Mystery N Mayhem 5K at Woodland Park
The Mystery N Mayhem 5K, a mystery solving team-based scavenger hunt, will take place at Woodland Park on Aug. 13 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The route will include 10 stops with clues that participants can use their smartphones or tablets to aid in solving the day’s overall mystery. Tickets are $35. 601 E High St. RunSignUp.com.
EKY Flood Relief Benefit Concert at Thatcher BBQ Co. in Slade
“Red River Revival,” an Eastern Kentucky flood relief benefit concert with performances from DeeOhGee, Sean Whiting, Sydney Adams, Lucas Wayne, Eric Bolander and others, will take place at The Pit House at Thatcher Barbecue Company in Slade on Aug. 14 at noon. Tickets are $25 and all proceeds generated will benefit flood relief efforts. 918 Natural Bridge Rd, Slade. Eventbrite.com.
Red River Gorge barbecue joint has its own style with bbq sundaes, street tacos
John Hiatt concert at the Lexington Opera House
Grammy nominated artist John Hiatt will perform at the Lexington Opera House with his band The Goners and support from Sonny Landreth on Aug. 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45-65. 401 W Short St. LexingtonOperaHouse.com.
Matt Wickstrom is a freelancer covering food, music and more. You can follow him on Instagram at @WickstromWrites .
