Lexington Christmas Parade, holiday shopping events, markets highlight 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 including family-friendly events, theatre plays, live music concerts, comedy shows, free events, University of Kentucky sports, Christmas and holiday holiday craft fairs, and holiday shopping events, holiday concerts and music, nature events, foodie events, 10K benefits and the Lexington Christmas Parade downtown.
Holiday theatre play: ‘The Twelve Dates of Christmas’ at the Farish Theatre
Hilarious and heartfelt one-woman play “The Twelve Dates of Christmas” will be presented by Ingénueity Unlimited at the Lexington Public Library’s Farish Theatre on Dec. 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. $25. 140 E Main St. LexPubLib.LibNet.Info/Event/9384685.
Kentucky Christmas at Ashland
Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, will host a Christmas Market noon-5:30 p.m. with local artists and food vendors selling merchandise, Santa selfies at 3-5 p.m., Kentuckians Chorus singing 5-5:30 p.m., Ashland illumination and candlelight tours 5:30-7 p.m. Free; $15-$20 for tours. Dec. 2, henryclay.org
Comedian Dan Cummins at Comedy Off Broadway
Comedian Dan Cummins will perform at Comedy Off Broadway on Dec. 1 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Dec. 2 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. $35-45. 161 Lexington Green Cir #C4. ComedyOffBroadway.com.
Asbury Christmas concert: ‘Songs Of The Season’
Asbury University’s Music and English Departments will host “Songs Of The Season”, a concert featuring seasonal music blended with readings of poetry and prose inspired by Advent and Christmas, at Hughes Auditorium on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Free. 1 Macklem Dr, Wilmore. Asbury.edu.
Bingo Loco at Manchester Music Hall
The world’s biggest bingo rave, Bingo Loco, will come to Manchester Music Hall on Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. with a mash-up of 90’s and 2000’s songs, dance-offs, lip-sync battles, comedian MC’s and of course, bingo! $25. 899 Manchester St. ManchesterMusicHall.com.
Holiday shopping: Christmas Vendor Fair & Open House at The Spotlight Playhouse
Peruse holiday wares, participate in a silent auction, get your picture with Santa, tour the Spotlight Playhouse and more during a vendor fair and open house on Dec. 2 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 214 Richmond Rd N, Berea. TheSpotlightPlayhouse.com.
Lexington Christmas Parade downtown on Main Street
The annual Lexington Christmas Parade will be 11 a.m. Dec. 2 going down Main Street starting at Midland Avenue and ending at Mill Street. The free parade will have bands, floats and Santa Claus. downtownlex.com
Christmas parades were once a big deal in Lexington. Ask the 100,000 who were there.
Christmas Market at Michler’s
Michler’s Florist and Kentucky Native Cafe will host a Christmas-themed market on Dec. 2 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Dec. 3 rom 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with pastries, live cello music, wreath crafting, boxwood tree decorating, vendors selling everything from ceramics to scarves, and more. 417 E Maxwell St #B. Michlers.com/Pages/Christmas-Market.
Holiday Open House at Equus Run Vineyards
Get ready to pop bottles as Miday’s Equus Run Vineyards unveils this year’s edition of its holiday blush wine during a holiday open house on Dec. 2 from 12-4 p.m. 1280 Moores Mill Rd, Midway. facebook.com/events/352692220601867.
Winterfest Beer Festival at Greyline Station
Over 20 local breweries will converge on Greyline Station when the Winterfest Beer Festival takes place at the indoor market on Dec. 2 from 12-5 p.m. Other activities include a synthetic ice rink, vendors and more. The event is free to attend, but each beer sample is $3. 101 W Loudon Ave. facebook.com/events/643387354601734.
UK School of Music, Lexington Singers Children’s Choir Holiday Concert at the Singletary Center
Vocalists and musicians from the UK School of Music and the Lexington Singers Children’s Choir will come together to perform a slew of holiday classics when “Collage: A Holiday Spectacular” returns to the Singletary Center for the Arts on Dec. 2 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. $17-37. 405 Rose St. FineArts.Uky.edu.
UK Men’s Basketball vs. UNC Wilmington at Rupp Arena
Reed Shepherd and the UK men’s basketball team will square off against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks at Rupp Arena on Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. The game will be televised by the SEC Network. From $39. 430 W Vine St. UkAthletics.com.
Owl Prowl at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
Join park staff at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary for a guided walk listening to the sounds of nearby owls on Dec. 2 from 6-8 p.m. $5 with pre-registration required. 3885 Raven Run Way. LexingtonKy.gov.
Bob Dylan Concert at EKU Center for the Arts
The legendary musician will perform 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the EKU Center for the Arts, 822 Hall Drive in Richmond. The 83-year-old talisman for the ’60s folk movement’s party was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Tickets: $64-$139.50; ekucenter.com and etix.com.
Jack Harlow, Bob Dylan have Lexington-area concerts this weekend. Are they sold-out?
Celtic Woman Concert at the Norton Center
Multi-platform Irish singing foursome Celtic Woman will perform at the Norton Center for the Arts in Danville on Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. $71-94. 600 W Walnut St, Danville. NortonCenter.com.
Van Halen Tribute Concert at Manchester Music Hall
“JUMP: America’s Van Halen Experience” will pay tribute to the legendary rock group with a performance at Manchester Music Hall on Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. $16-30. 899 Manchester St. ManchesterMusicHall.com.
Sneakers, vintage and streetwear shopping event at the Central Bank Center
Over 100 sneaker vendors from all around the country will gather at Central Bank Center when SNKR BST returns on Dec. 3 from 12-5 p.m. $5-30. 430 W Vine St. CentralBankCenter.com.
UK Women’s Basketball vs. Tennessee Tech at the Clive M. Beck Center
Head coach Kyra Elzy and the UK women’s basketball team will take on the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Transylvania University’s Clive M. Beck Center on Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. 370 N Broadway. UkAthletics.com.
Pay It Forward 5K at Cardinal Run Park South
The second annual Pay It Forward 5K, where upon crossing the line runners receive a finisher medal with up to $100 inside, will take place at Cardinal Run Park South on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. $35-50. 2000 Parkers Mill Rd. RunSignUp.com.
Holiday Mini Pie Decorating & Wine Class at Harkness Edwards Vineyards
Join Sweet and Sassy Ashley’s for a holiday mini pie making and wine class at Harkness Edwards V/ineyards in Winchester on Dec. 3 at 2:30 p.m. Attendees will make a dozen mini pies to take home and share during the holidays. $47. 5199 Combs Ferry Rd, Winchester. facebook.com/events/823976662717834.
Origins Jazz Series Holiday Concert at the Kentucky Theatre
Listen to the Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet perform holiday classics from Vince Guaraldi and an all-star big band playing the Duke Ellington Nutcracker Suite during the next edition of the Origins Jazz Series at the Kentucky Theatre on Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are on a “pay-what-you-can” scale. 214 E Main St. facebook.com/events/1052940262400447.
Artisan Vendor Holiday Market and Christmas Concert at The Burl
The Burl will host a holiday market on Dec. 3 from 4-6 p.m. followed by an intimate performance of classic Christmas hits from Maggie Lander & Chris Dennison at 6 p.m. $15. 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com.
Jack Harlow Concert at Rupp Arena
Renowned rapper and Louisville native Jack Harlow will finish off his third annual “No Place Like Home” statewide tour with a performance at Rupp Arena on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. From $39.50. 430 W Vine St. RuppArena.com.
Matt Wickstrom is a freelancer covering food, music and more. You can follow him on Instagram at @WickstromWrites .
