Keeneland and farmers’ markets: The 16 best things to do in Lexington this weekend

Matt Wickstrom
·5 min read

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, theatre shows, musicals and plays, kid-friendly events, comedy shows, dance performances, horse racing and farmers’ markets.

Keeneland’s Spring Meet has free activities on Saturday morning and free tailgating on The Hill all weekend this year. The track is closed April 9, Easter Sunday.
Keeneland’s Spring Meet has free activities on Saturday morning and free tailgating on The Hill all weekend this year. The track is closed April 9, Easter Sunday.

Keeneland Spring racing meet

Keeneland’s Spring meet is April 7-28 with live racing Wednesday through Sunday except for Easter Sunday on April 9. Post time 1 p.m. daily, with jockeys signing posters at 11:30 a.m. April 7. General admission $7 in advance, $10 day of racing. All tickets must be purchased in advance online at tickets.Keeneland.com; no cash/walk up purchases at the main gates on race days. Tailgating on The Hill is free and open Friday, Saturday and Sunday with food trucks, Bluegrass music, jumbo TV screen to watch races and wagering options. Sunrise Trackside is 8 to 10 a.m. Saturdays; free with children’s activities. Keeneland.com

Tickets for Keeneland’s Spring racing meet are available online. No cash/walk-up tickets will be sold at the main gates.
Tickets for Keeneland’s Spring racing meet are available online. No cash/walk-up tickets will be sold at the main gates.

Living Arts & Science Center Discovery Week

Day 5 of the Living Arts & Science Center’s Discovery Week with spring-themed story time and mini craft at 1 p.m., planetarium shows at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., science experiments at 3 p.m. Free. lasclex.org

Greyline Station Spring Block Party

Get your free photo with the Easter bunny while also enjoying live music, pop-up vendors and more at Greyline Station on April 7 from 5-7 p.m. 101 W Loudon Ave. Facebook.com.

Comedian Aaron Weber at Comedy Off Broadway

Nashville-based comedian and regular performer at the Grand Ole Opry, Aaron Weber, will bring the laughs to Comedy Off Broadway on April 7 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and April 8 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $13-15. 161 Lexington Green Cir #C4. ComedyOffBroadway.com.

UK Symphony Orchestra Concert at the Singletary Center

Violinist Jennifer Koh will join the UK Symphony Orchestra for a special performance at the Singletary Center for the Arts on April 7 at 7:30 p.m. The show will feature the premiere of Grammy-winning composer Missy Mazzoli’s violin concerto, “Procession,” along with Outi Tarkiainen’s “Songs of the Ice” and Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances.” Tickets are $8-20. 405 Rose St. FineArts.Uky.edu.

Violinist Jennifer Koh will perform at the University of Kentucky Singletary Center.
Violinist Jennifer Koh will perform at the University of Kentucky Singletary Center.

Fantastic Negrito Concert at the Lyric Theatre

Grammy winning musician and the first ever winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, Fantastic Negrito, will host a viewing of his documentary film “White Jesus Black Problems,” perform and take questions at the Lyric Theatre on April 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $32-52. 300 E Third St. LexingtonLyric.com.

Laurel Cove Music Festival Pre-Party at The Burl

Eastern Kentucky based singer-songwriters Tim Goodin, Dalton Mills and Dave Shoemaker will perform as part of a pre-party for Laurel Cove Music Festival (June 9-10 in Pineville) at The Burl on April 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com.

Moonlite Mile Concert at The Twisted Cork

Singer-songwriter Jonathan Pennington will perform with his band Moonlite Mile at the newly relocated Twisted Cork on April 7 at 8 p.m. The event is free to attend. 145 Burt Rd #120. Facebook.com.

Lexington Farmers Market

Open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 7 at Tandy Centennial Park downtown on Main Street and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 8 on Southland Drive with vendors offering seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh flowers, meats and cheese, baked goods and more. Free. lexingtonfarmersmarket.com

Bluegrass Farmers Market

Open 9 a.m. to noon at 1837 Plaudit Pl., Liquor Barn in Hamburg with seasonal fruits and vegetables, flowers, baked goods, meats and cheese, and more. Free.

“Shades Of Compassion“ at the Headley Whitney Museum

The Headley Whitney Museum will present “Shades Of Compassion”, an international traveling photography exhibit featuring works by Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham and others from April 8-June 18. The exhibit is viewable Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are $10. 4435 Old Frankfort Pike. Headley-Whitney.org.

“The Wizard Of Oz” at the Lexington Opera House

The Kentucky Ballet Theatre will present “The Wizard Of Oz” at the Lexington Opera House on April 8 at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $32-47. 401 W Short St. LexingtonOperaHouse.com.

Jessamine Spring Fling

Enjoy live music, crafts and retail vendors, food trucks 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 8, with an Easter egg hunt at 1 p.m. at Jessamine City-County Park in Nicholasville. Free.

Pecos & The Rooftops Concert at Manchester Music Hall

Lubbock, Texas-based country rock band Pecos & The Rooftops will play at Manchester Music Hall on April 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22. 899 Manchester St. ManchesterMusicHall.com.

Bac 2 Mac Concert at The Burl

Fleetwood Mac tribute band Bac 2 Mac will perform hits like “The Chain,” “Gold Dust Woman” and more during an all-ages concert at The Burl on April 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com.

Wildflower Walk

Raven Run park staff will host a hike April 9 1-2:30 p.m. to view spring wildflowers and learn to identify up to 12 species common in the Bluegrass. Free, registration required. parks.lexingtonky.gov

Matt Wickstrom is a freelancer covering food, music and more. You can follow him on Instagram at @WickstromWrites .