Shakespeare in the park: 22 best things to do in, around Lexington this weekend

Matt Wickstrom
·7 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 including events, live music concerts, theatre shows, farmers markets, kid-friendly and free events, comedy shows, a cat show and vintage baseball.

Berea Craft Festival

Over 100 artists from all over the U.S. will offer works and provide demonstrations at the Berea Craft Festival July 7 and 8 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and July 9 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Indian Fort Theater, 2047 Big Hill Rd. in Berea. $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, children and parking free. visitberea.com

Sweet Land Of Liberty Music Festival in Livingston

Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle, The Local Honeys, Blind Corn Liquor Pickers and other regional bands will perform during the third annual Sweet Land Of Liberty Music Festival at Rockcastle Riverside campground in Livingston on July 7 and 8. $50 and up. 4211 Lower River Rd, Livingston. SweetLandFest.com.

Elliott County Fiddlers Convention in Sandy Hook

Some of the region and country’s most revered fiddlers will gather for a weekend of pickin’, square dancing and more during the fourth annual Elliott County Fiddlers Convention at the Little Sandy Lodge in Sandy Hook from July 7 and 8. Other activities include a band contest, luthier showcase and musical workshops. 1916 N KY 7, Sandy Hook. Facebook.com/ElliotCoFiddlersConvention.

Spooky Fox Concert at Shaker Village

Somerset based songwriter Yovany Pino, better known by his stage name Spooky Fox, will perform at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg on July 7 at 6:30 p.m. Free. 3501 Lexington Rd, Harrodsburg. ShakerVillageKy.org.

The Minks Concert at Moondance Amphitheater

Nashville rock band The Minks will take the stage at Moondance Amphitheater during the next installment of the Summer Nights In Suburbia concert series on July 7 at 7 p.m. Free. 1152 Monarch St. LexingtonKy.gov.

Comedian Raanan Hershberg at Comedy Off Broadway

Comedian Raanan Hershberg will perform at Comedy Off Broadway on July 7 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and July 8 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. $13-15. 161 Lexington Green Cir #C4. ComedyOffBroadway.com.

BurLEX Intermediate Showcase at Rock House Brewing

Local burlesque collective BurLEX will host an end-of-term showcase of its intermediate students at Rock House Brewing on July 7 at 7 p.m. $20. 119 Luigart Ct. Facebook.com.

Salsa Under the Stars at The Kentucky Castle

Take part in a Salsa Workshop by The Salsa Center while enjoying appetizers like Cuban crostinis and bourbon barbecue meatballs during Salsa Under The Stars at The Kentucky Castle on July 7 at 7:30 p.m. $40. 230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles. TheKentuckyCastle.com.

Jonathan Hall (Julius Caesar) and Sarah Jo Jacobs (Mark Antony) will be in the Appalachian Shakespeare Center’s production of “Julius Caesar” in Woodland Park this weekend. Sally Horowitz Photography
Jonathan Hall (Julius Caesar) and Sarah Jo Jacobs (Mark Antony) will be in the Appalachian Shakespeare Center’s production of “Julius Caesar” in Woodland Park this weekend. Sally Horowitz Photography

“Julius Caesar” at Woodland Park

Eastern Kentucky University’s Appalachian Shakespeare Center will host productions of “Julius Caesar” at Woodland Park on July 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. Additional showings will take place every Thursday-Saturday through July 22. $15-20. 601 E High St. EKUTheatre.com.

Lexington Farmers Market

Lexington Farmers Market will be downtown at Tandy Centennial Park on Main Street 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 8 and on Southland Drive 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 9 with fresh corn, tomatoes, peaches, cut flowers, baked goods, vegetables and fruits, meats and cheeses and more. lexingtonfarmersmarket.com

Bluegrass Farmers Market

Beginning at 9 a.m. on July 8, Bluegrass Farmers Market will have baked goods, fresh vegetables and fruits, cut flowers, local meats and cheese and more. 1837 Plaudit Place. facebook.com/BluegrassFarmersMarket

Peaches were among the many fruits like apples and blackberries for visitors to pick at Eckert’s Orchard in Versailles, July 29, 2021. Eckert’s Orchard is holding its first Peach Party this year. Marcus Dorsey/mdorsey@herald-leader.com
Peaches were among the many fruits like apples and blackberries for visitors to pick at Eckert’s Orchard in Versailles, July 29, 2021. Eckert’s Orchard is holding its first Peach Party this year. Marcus Dorsey/mdorsey@herald-leader.com

Peach Party at Eckert’s Orchard

Pick your own peaches or just pick up some to eat at Eckert’s first-ever Peach Party & Vendor Fair July 8. Live music by Matt Castle 1-4 p.m., taco truck Taqueria Darly onsite 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Open 19 a.m.-5 p.m. 1396 Pinckard Pike, Versailles. Eckerts.com

Versailles resident Stacy Manon picked peaches from different peach trees at Eckert’s Orchard in Versailles, July 29, 2021. Marcus Dorsey/mdorsey@herald-leader.com
Versailles resident Stacy Manon picked peaches from different peach trees at Eckert’s Orchard in Versailles, July 29, 2021. Marcus Dorsey/mdorsey@herald-leader.com

Jordan Allen Concert at Bluegrass Barrel House

London-based musician Jordan Allen & The Bellwethers will perform at Bluegrass Barrel House in Richmond on July 7 at 7:30 p.m. with Prestonburg’s Emily Jamerson and Irvine’s The Jenkins Twins. $5. 701 E Irvine St, Richmond. Facebook.com.

The annual Triple Crown Cat Fanciers CFA Allbreed Cat Show is this weekend. Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com
The annual Triple Crown Cat Fanciers CFA Allbreed Cat Show is this weekend. Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com

Triple Crown Cat Fanciers cat show

Triple Crown Cat Fanciers will hold their sixth annual All-breed cat show with agility competition, cat costume contest, breed judging, July 8 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and July 9 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lexington Ice Center & Sports Complex, 560 Eureka Springs Dr. $5-7. triplecrowncfa.com.

Gia, a 3-year-old Cornish Rex, is all gussied up by Kathy Pritchard of Virginia at the Triple Crown Cat Fanciers show at Kentucky Indoor Sports in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, July 9, 2017. Matt Goins
Gia, a 3-year-old Cornish Rex, is all gussied up by Kathy Pritchard of Virginia at the Triple Crown Cat Fanciers show at Kentucky Indoor Sports in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, July 9, 2017. Matt Goins

Aaron Boyd Concert at The Burl

Estill County songsmith Aaron Boyd will celebrate the release of his album “Coming Undone” at The Burl with Pikeville’s Bek & The Starlight Revue, Lexington’s Maggie Lander and Louisville’s W.D. Miller on July 7 at 8 p.m. $12. 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com.

Sunday Morning Yoga at Ashland

Enjoy yoga on the lawn at 10 a.m. July 9 Ashland the Henry Clay Estate, 120 Sycamore Rd. Free. Henryclay.org.

Story Walk at McConnell Springs Park

Read and walk a long to Eric Carle’s “The Tiny Seed” during a self-guided story walk at McConnell Springs Park on July 8 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 416 Rebmann Ln. LexingtonKy.gov.

Twilight Trek at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

Learn about how animals navigate the night and what critters come out after dark during a family-friendly twilight trek designed for kids K-5 at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary on July 8 from 8:30-10 p.m. Free, but pre-registration is required. 3885 Raven Run Way. LexingtonKy.gov.

Waveland Cup vintage baseball game

The Bluegrass Barons will host the Cincinnati Reds Hll of Fame 1869 Red Stockings in the 2023 Waveland Cup vintage baseball game. Bring lawn chairs and picnic lunch. Free, first pitch 1 p.m. Waveland State Histroic Site, 225 Waveland Museum Lane.

John Santos “One Pocket” Losantiville Black Stockings was tagged out at first by Todd Mattingly “Rabbit” In a vintage baseball game set in the 1860’s The Norwood Highlanders defeated the Losantiville Black Stockings 16-4 at Waveland Historic Site on Sunday May 17, 2015, Lexington, Ky. Photo by Mark Mahan Mark Mahan/2015 file photo
John Santos “One Pocket” Losantiville Black Stockings was tagged out at first by Todd Mattingly “Rabbit” In a vintage baseball game set in the 1860’s The Norwood Highlanders defeated the Losantiville Black Stockings 16-4 at Waveland Historic Site on Sunday May 17, 2015, Lexington, Ky. Photo by Mark Mahan Mark Mahan/2015 file photo

Wildflower Walk at McConnell Springs Park

Learn how to identify common flora species found in Kentucky while viewing McConnell Springs Park’s assortment of spring blooms during a wildflower walk on July 9 from 2-3 p.m. Free, but pre-registration is required. LexingtonKy.gov.

Whole Hog Roast at Rock House Brewing

Rock House Brewing and Daughters’ Southern Food Truck will team up to host a whole hog roast at the brewery on July 9 at 2 p.m. Additionally, Rock House will have a lineup of tiki- inspired sour ales alongside its other beers. Free. 119 Luigart Ct. Facebook.com.

Jon Stickley Trio Concert at The Burl

Jon Stickley Trio of Asheville, N.C., will bring its intoxicating instrumental sound to The Burl for a concert on July 9 at 8 p.m. $12. 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com.