What's On in Lexington
Events, markets, games, library and parks programs in and around Lexington, with times, prices and the organizer's own link.
Top story
Arts and exhibitions in Lexington: October 2026
Lexington arts to Dec. 6: Dracula and White Christmas at the Opera House, LexPhil Nov. 21, the LexArts HOP Nov. 20, COLLAGE Dec. 5-6, free UK Art Museum shows.
Coming up
The full month- Sat. Oct. 24 Pumpkin carving at Raven Run
- Sat. Oct. 24 Carve'n Chip'n
- Sat. Oct. 24 Lexington Philharmonic: Heroes and Villains
- Now through Oct. 24 Keeneland Fall Meet racing
- Oct. 24 to 25 Kentucky Ballet Theatre: Dracula
- Sun. Oct. 25 Purple in the Park
- Sun. Oct. 25 Halloween Variety Show
- Sun. Oct. 25 Halloween Variety Show and Festival
- Sun. Oct. 25 Halloween and Thriller Parade
- Sun. Oct. 25 Halloween Parade and Thriller reenactment
- Mon. Oct. 26 Halloween Dance with Costume Contest
- Oct. 26 to 29 Sunrise Trackside: Breeders' Cup Edition
Plan your weekend
Fourth of July
Lexington Fourth of July fireworks and parade 2026
Lexington's July 4 fireworks launch about 10 p.m. near Main Street and Oliver Lewis Way after a noon parade. Only sparklers and fountains are legal here.
Halloween
Trick-or-treat hours in Lexington 2026
Lexington lists trick-or-treat on Saturday, Oct. 31, but 2026 hours are not posted yet; in 2025 the city listed 7 p.m. Free candy nights run Oct. 26-30.
Christmas
Lexington Christmas parade and tree lighting 2026
Lexington's Holiday Parade steps off at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, down Main Street, then the tree and menorah lighting in Triangle Park about 6 p.m.
High school football
Friday night football 2026: Lexington schedule
Lexington's last three regular-season Fridays: Dunbar hosts Henry Clay Oct. 16 and Lafayette Oct. 23; Tates Creek visits Henry Clay. Most start 6:30 or 7:30.
Fall festivals
Fall festivals and pumpkin patches near Lexington 2026
Corn mazes, pumpkins and fall fun near Lexington: Devine's in Harrodsburg through Nov. 1, Evans Orchard in Georgetown, and the Jack-O-Lantern Trail Oct. 27-30.
Halloween
Halloween events in Lexington 2026
Halloween 2026 in Lexington: the Thriller Parade Oct. 25, the Jack-O-Lantern Trail Oct. 27-30, free candy nights at community centers and library Boo Bashes.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in Lexington 2026: races, meals, closings
Thanksgiving 2026 in Lexington: the Thoroughbred Classic 5K at Keeneland, the Gobbler half marathon, community meals, closings and the trash pickup change.
Black Friday
Black Friday and holiday shopping in Lexington 2026
Lexington holiday shopping 2026: Fayette Mall's Black Friday and December hours, Small Business Saturday Nov. 28, holiday markets and downtown parking.
Christmas
Holiday lights and Christmas events in Lexington 2026
Christmas 2026 in Lexington: Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park Nov. 27 to Dec. 31, Santa visits, Ashland Illumination Dec. 5, markets and concerts.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve in Lexington 2026: events and what's open
New Year's Eve 2026 in Lexington: what the city has and has not announced, the last night of Southern Lights, and New Year's Day closings and trash pickup.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day in Lexington 2027: brunch, events and markets
Mother's Day 2027 is May 9. Mayfest in Gratz Park, the farmers market for gifts, what the city held for moms in 2026, and where to find brunch in Lexington.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day in Lexington 2027: events and date ideas
Valentine's Day 2027 in Lexington: what the city held in 2026, the Raven Run twilight hike, Galentine's cooking and date ideas from venues' own pages.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day in Lexington 2027: ceremony, closings, trash
Memorial Day 2027 is May 31. The Lexington Cemetery observance, what is closed, the trash pickup change and the city pools' opening weekend, with 2026 dates marked.
Spring break
Spring break in Lexington 2027: FCPS dates, camps, what's open
Fayette County Public Schools spring break is April 5-9, 2027. Free city spring break programs, camps, parks and what is open, with 2026 events marked.
Easter
Easter in Lexington 2027: egg hunts, brunch and services
Easter 2027 is March 28. Lexington's free community center egg hunts, with 2026 dates marked, what is closed on Easter Sunday and where to find brunch.
Father's Day
Father's Day in Lexington 2027: brunch, bourbon, golf, events
Father's Day 2027 is Sunday, June 20. Sunday brunch, distillery hours, city golf courses, Keeneland and the free concerts of Father's Day week in Lexington.
Labor Day
Labor Day in Lexington 2027: closings, trash, pools, events
Labor Day 2027 is Sept. 6. What closes in Lexington, the trash pickup shift, Lextran's Sunday schedule, the last pool day and holiday weekend events.
Summer
Summer in Lexington 2027: camps, pools and spraygrounds
Lexington city pools, spraygrounds and summer camps: 2026 opening days, hours, admission, pool passes and when 2027 camp registration usually opens.
Brunch
Brunch in Lexington: weekend brunch hours at 7 restaurants
Weekend brunch in Lexington with days, hours, addresses and phones from each restaurant's own site: downtown, the Distillery District, Chevy Chase and south.
Dogs
Dog-friendly Lexington: dog parks, patios, trails and leash rules
Lexington's eight dog parks and dog lots with addresses and acreage, the park rules, Yappy Hour, dog-friendly patios and where dogs are not allowed.
Kids
Kids' activities in Lexington: playgrounds, story times, rainy days
Things to do with kids in Lexington: the Children's Museum, the Kentucky Children's Garden, library story times, spraygrounds, Jacobson Park and rainy-day picks.
Trails
Lexington walking and biking trails: distances and trailheads
Lexington's walking and biking trails with distances and trailheads: the 8-mile Legacy Trail, Town Branch, Brighton Rail Trail, Shillito loops and mountain biking.
Distillery District
Lexington's Distillery District: a guide to Manchester Street
The Distillery District on Manchester Street: bourbon tours, cider, beer, the Manchester hotel, live music, hours, parking and the LexRide shuttle.
Live music
Live music and nightlife in Lexington: venues, bars, late hours
Where to hear live music and go out in Lexington: Manchester Music Hall, the Burl, the Opera House, Rupp Arena, rooftop bars, taprooms and getting home on LexRide.
Free
Free things to do in Lexington: gardens, art, concerts, events
Free things to do in Lexington: The Arboretum, the UK Art Museum, free city concerts and movies, Halloween events, library cards and Keeneland's open grounds.
Date night
Date night in Lexington: dinner, shows, rooftop drinks, dessert
Date night in Lexington: dinner hours at Jeff Ruby's, Coles 735 Main, Epping's, Granddam and the Merrick Inn, shows, tastings, a rooftop bar and late games.
Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup at Keeneland 2026: gates, parking, shuttles
Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, Oct. 30-31, 2026: gates open 9:30 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday; parking is sold in advance only, with shuttles from downtown.
Nutcracker
Lexington Nutcracker 2026: Opera House, Dec. 12-20
Lexington Ballet dances The Nutcracker at the Lexington Opera House Dec. 12-20, 2026, with The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, White Christmas and COLLAGE.
Keeneland
Keeneland fall and spring meets: dates, tickets, parking
Keeneland's fall meet closed Oct. 24, 2026; the Breeders' Cup is Oct. 30-31 and the spring meet is April 2-23, 2027. Tickets are sold in advance only.
Kentucky Three-Day Event
Kentucky Three-Day Event: 2027 dates, tickets, parking
The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is April 22-25, 2027, at the Kentucky Horse Park. Grounds tickets from $21; kids 12 and under free with an adult.
Woodland Art Fair
Woodland Art Fair in Lexington: dates, hours, parking
The free Woodland Art Fair fills Woodland Park the third weekend of every August with nearly 200 artists. 2027 dates are not out yet; 2026 was Aug. 15-16.
Restaurants
Where to eat in Lexington: lists by category
Every Lexington where-to-eat list in one place: wings, pizza, Mexican, barbecue, breakfast, burgers, sushi, desserts, bakeries and patios, all alphabetical.
Wings
Where to get wings in Lexington: Roosters, pizza places and late night
Six places to get wings in Lexington, from Roosters on Richmond Road and Marketplace Drive to Sir Pizza, Rolling Oven and the delivery chains.
Pizza
Where to get pizza in Lexington: 14 pizza places and chains
14 places to get pizza in Lexington, with hours and phones from their own sites: downtown, Chevy Chase, National Avenue, Hamburg and South Broadway.
Mexican food
Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Lexington: 19 places
19 Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Lexington with addresses and hours from their own sites: downtown, South Limestone, Richmond Road and Hamburg.
Barbecue
Where to get barbecue in Lexington: National Avenue to Beaumont
Four Lexington barbecue restaurants with addresses, hours and phones from their own sites: National Avenue, Walton Avenue, Beaumont and Georgetown Road.
Breakfast
Breakfast and coffee in Lexington: 12 cafes and breakfast spots
12 Lexington breakfast restaurants and coffee shops with hours from their own sites: downtown, North Limestone, Chevy Chase, the Distillery District and south.
Burgers
Where to get burgers in Lexington: Tolly-Ho, Rosemont and more
Eight Lexington burger restaurants with hours from their own sites: downtown, Foreman Avenue, Rosemont Garden, Beaumont, Fritz Farm and Nicholasville Road.
Sushi
Sushi and Asian restaurants in Lexington: 16 places
16 sushi, Thai, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese restaurants in Lexington: downtown, South Limestone, Southland Drive and Richmond Road.
Ice cream
Ice cream and desserts in Lexington: 8 scoop shops and sweets
Eight places for ice cream, custard and late-night sweets in Lexington: the Distillery District, National Avenue, Euclid Avenue, Hamburg and Clays Mill.
Bakeries
Bakeries in Lexington: doughnuts, bread, cakes and panaderias
18 Lexington bakeries and doughnut shops: Spalding's on Winchester Road, the Warehouse Block, Rosemont Garden, North Limestone and the panaderias.
Patios
Patios and outdoor dining in Lexington: 13 places
13 Lexington restaurants whose own sites mention a patio, rooftop or outdoor seating: downtown, the Distillery District, Fritz Farm and Lakecrest Circle.
