Spring is finally coming! I’ve rounded up all the events you can’t miss in Lexington this Spring. Check them out below, and if I’ve missed anything, let me know in the comments. I will continue to update this post as new events are announced.
March 14-20: St. Patrick’s Day menu at Drake’s
The Rachel sandwich is one of my favorite things ever, I look forward to it all year long! There are also cheese curds and you need them.
March 15: Kayla Weber Nord Floral Ginger Jar Painting Workshop
Paint a 16×20 canvas of a floral ginger jar and learn from the best in the biz, Kayla herself! $75 tickets.
Various Dates: Concerts at the Burl
The Burl has concerts all Spring long. There’s even a Taylor Smith tribute night!
March 17: Pasta Garage Wine Dinner
Enjoy a live action chef dinner at Pasta Garage. Four courses with wine pairings highlighting local farms. $100 tickets.
March 18-April 8: Keeneland Backstretch Tour
Walk through Keeneland’s Stable Area – commonly called the “backstretch” — and see activities that occur every day – from a racehorse being bathed and walked to receiving new shoes. Other tour stops include the main track and training track, Racing Office and Sales Pavilion. $35 tickets.
March 20: Coffee Pairing Experience at The Kentucky Castle
The team at 4th Level Roasters will be teaching you about farming coffee, different processes involved for the green beans, how to taste coffee, how to read a coffee label, demystifying the coffee menu, brewing methods, and much more. $45 tickets include a brunch menu.
March 22: Jiang Family Dinner at Honeywood
Chen Hao Jiang, a Dunbar High School student will be a guest chef for a traditional Chinese meal. Chen will prepare and serve a meal inspired by family favorites from his childhood. Tickets for the four course dinner are $30 and all proceeds go to the Lexington Rescue Mission.
March 23: Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit
The Food Connection at the University of Kentucky, in partnership with Bluegrass Farm to Table, the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, invite you to join in a full day of workshops, networking, and conversations designed to bring together local food professionals and advocates who work on the front lines of growing our local food and farm economy. $75 tickets, hosted at Kroger Field.
March 23: The Scout Guide Spring Fling
Enjoy a Spring Fashion Preview, Spark Jewelry, Luxe Curator Handbags, “Build Your Own Swag Bag” Station with gift cards, DJ and more. Tickets start at $50 and include Champagne and lite bites from the new LockBox Kitchen.
March 24: Local Mash at West Sixth Brewing
West Sixth is turning ten and celebrating with their fourth annual beer and food pairing event! There will be seven chefs creating perfectly paired small plates to go with selected West Sixth brews. $60 tickets include one plate from each chef, a corresponding 6oz pairing of beer for each plate, and a specialty tasting glass that’s yours to take home.
March 24-27: Lexington Toy & Comic Convention
A gathering of all things and people in the comic and collectible toy industry at Central Bank Center. Tickets start at $30.
March 27: Crank & Boom Book Club
Ice cream and books?! I’m in! Crank & Boom is starting a book club at their Clays Mill location. The first meeting is March 27 at 5pm.
March 27: LexPride Drag Brunch
Drag brunch at Pivot Brewing! $30 ticket includes one drink.
March 28-May 3: Catch the Blooms at Lexington Cemetery
It may sound morbid, but Lexington Cemetery is so beautiful when it blooms in the Spring. I actually spent a lot of time there as a young child feeding the ducks at the pond. It’s worth a trip to drive through the grounds!
April-October: Thursday Night Live
A Lexington staple event. Live music, food trucks and drinks at Fifth Third Pavilion downtown.
April-Summer: Lexington Farmer’s Market
Another one that I’m so looking forward to. Catch me at the downtown market on Saturdays! There’s also a market at Southland Dr. on Sundays.
April-Summer: Kentucky Children’s Garden
The Kentucky Children’s Garden is a 2-acre garden designed to share the joy and wonder of nature and plants. It is best suited for children ages 2 to 6 and their families. The garden’s features include child-sized representations of Kentucky’s landscapes (natural and man-made, past and present) as well as themed gardens including butterfly, vegetable and transportation gardens. $3 admission, but there are several appreciation days where it is free.
April 8-29: Keeneland Spring Meet
Keeneland is a must in the Spring!
April 14: Color Me Kentucky Fashion Show
The University of Kentucky’s Department of Retailing and Tourism Management invites you for their annual fashion show. This event will showcase what makes fashion in Kentucky unique. Master of Ceremony is Carson Kressley! Tickets start at $20, at Kroger Field.
April 16: Bluegrass Craft Beer & Bourbon Festival
Craft beer and bourbon festival at Moondance Amphitheater! There are also food trucks and live entertainment. $45 tickets. $15 designated driver tickets are also available.
April 18-24: Lexington Taco Week
$6 taco plates at a bunch of local restaurants!
April 22-24: Hairspray at the Lexington Opera House
Hairspray live at the Lexington Opera House. Tickets start at $75.
May-Summer: Pick-Your-Own at Evan’s Orchard
Strawberries, blueberries, pear, flowers and more! Sounds like it’s time to bake a pie. Check out the schedule here.
May 7: Derby Day
There will be too many celebrations to list here! I’ll share a post closer to the date with all the fun stuff going on in Lex.
May 13: Taste of the Bluegrass
The OG taste event of Lexington is back! Sample from tons of local restaurants and bourbons/spirits. $100 tickets.
May 22: Jon Crist at the Lexington Opera House
This guy cracks me up on Instagram! Comedy show tickets start at $50.
June 3-4: Bluegrass BBQ Fest
BBQ, bourbon, beer and live music downtown at Courthouse Plaza. Free admission, you just pay for what you buy.
Tour Ashland
I walk around Ashland all the time, but haven’t been inside since I was in elementary school. The Traces of Slavery tour leads guests in the footsteps of the men, women, and children who were enslaved at Ashland on this indoor/outdoor tour. Learn how historians use traces of evidence to uncover their stories. Listen to the voices of those who resisted bondage and honor the memory of those who were forced to labor at Ashland. Tickets start at $15 and are available in small groups Tuesday-Sunday.
Take a Horse Tour
I’ve done a tour through Visit Horse Country and it is such a cool experience. If you live in Lexington and have never been on a horse farm, now is a great time while we all have more free time.
June 11: Beer Cheese Festival
Beer cheese is just about my favorite food group, so I’m all about a festival dedicated to it. A free event in Winchester with food, music and other fun. Details and covid restrictions haven’t been updated yet.
I will add to the list as things pop up, but if you know of something I should add please comment below! Happy spring!
Biscuits & blessings,
Leels
I’m really looking forward to going to the Beer Cheese Festival in Winchester