After the holidays are over it always feels like there’s nothing to look forward to until spring, but there’s plenty of fun things to do in Lexington. Check it out below!
Winter is a great time to get out and do something you wouldn’t normally do in a busy season. Lexington has a surprising amount of historic homes: Ashland, The Hunt Morgan House, The Mary Todd Lincoln House, Waveland.. I’m embarrassed to say out of these I’ve only been to Ashland, so I might be joining you this winter!
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, it’s a must.
See a Movie at The Kentucky Theatre
I love the Kentucky. They’re showing Star Wars and Little Women all of January and a special showing of Casablanca on Valentine’s Day.
1/13-17: Keeneland Sales
I didn’t know for the longest time that the sales were open to the public! Get a look at the other side of horse racing.
1/16: Vegan Winter Dinner at Alfalfa’s
A special vegan winter dinner, reservations available, but not required.
1/16: Best of Will Ferrell Trivia at World of Beer
1/18: Henry Dry Goods Warehouse Sale
One of my favorite local brands is doing a big warehouse sale. They have the coolest bags!
1/19: Clay Chick Ceramics Warehouse Sale
Everything is 30% off already reduced warehouse pricing, plus a special buy, Flower Pocket for $10. Shop Valentine’s gifts!
1/19: Eppings Drag Brunch
“The Double D Brunch” – hosted by Helena Handbasket. Enjoy Epping’s brunch buffet and drink specials. Tickets are $30 and include seating and brunch. Pitchers of mimosas and bloody marys are $25. Call 859-971-0240 to purchase a ticket.
1/20: Friends Trivia at Tin Roof
1/21,30,2/4,6,9: Maddie’s Cookie Co Classes at Seventh + Lime
Infamous Lexington local cookie maker, Maddie, is teaching a bunch of classes, several are Valentine’s Day themed. Tickets start at $40 and always go fast so get on it!
1/24: Hot Cajun N’ Hot Cider at Pivot Brewing
Bourbon and Toulouse will be in the house pairing with hot cider from Pivot.
1/25: Wizards & Witches Beer Festival at Manchester Music Hall
“A night of magic, debauchery and mischief.” The Grand Hall will host tastings of over twenty magical beers, ciders, and wines. Explore and drink your way through the Lair of Secret Cider and Potions as well as the Boozy Cauldron Tavern, known for their Adult Butterscotch Beer and other delectable drinks. The enchanted shops of magic village will be full of characters photo ops, wizardy vendors and plenty of food. There will be live music from the Sorceress Sisters, the Red Head Party Band, and DJ DumbelD. Tickets are $35.
1/25-31: Chicken Sandwich Week
$5 chicken sandwiches at a bunch of local places!
1/26: Lexington Philharmonic Sound Explorers Concert at EKU Planetarium
The concert will include music from Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy and ET with projectinos of the moon and stars from the planetarium. Tickets are only $7.
1/26: Chinese New Year Celebration at Lexington Opera House
Holiday market with festival foods, crafts, traditional costumes, calligraphy, mini Chinese class, cultural displays and family activities. At 7pm there’s a performance featuring festival songs, dances, Chinese music ensemble, dragon dance and special presentations of acrobatics and Sichuan Opera. Tickets are $15.
1/27: Wine 101 Class at Wine + Market
Sniff and sip through the big five grape varieties, discuss how wine is made, major wine producing regions and styles, food pairing tips, and more. $20 tickets with optional $8 cheese plate.
1/27-2/2: Hot Chocolate Week at the Amsden
Try a new specialty flavor each day! The Amsden is a super cute coffee shop with Gathered Mercantile attached, with lots of local vendors.
1/28: Markey Dine Around
Eat lunch or dinner at one of several local restaurants and they will donate 25% to the Markey Cancer Center.
1/31-2/1: Cindy Reed In Town Retreat at The Massage Center
An in town mini-retreat with Cindy Reed & The Daring Way™ methodology based on the research of Brené Brown. Explore topics such as vulnerability, courage, shame, and worthiness. Participants are invited to examine the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are holding them back and identify the new choices and practices that will move them toward more authentic and wholehearted living. The primary focus is on developing resilience skills and daily practices that transform the way we live, love, parent, and lead.
2/1: Valentine’s Day Print Making at Lexington Art League
Bluegrass Printmakers is hosting a free printing event at the Lexington Art League. Drop in any time between noon and 4 pm. They’re providing supplies and a variety of pre-carved Valentine-themed blocks and stamps to choose from and use to print your own cards. Member art will also be available for sale.
2/4: Vegetable Garden Planning at The Arboretum
The class will begin inside with a presentation about planning your vegetable garden, preparing the soil, crop rotation, and season extension methods. Attendees will then take a short tour of the vegetable garden at The Arboretum.
2/8: Valentine’s Card Making Class at La Petite Delicat
Learn how to make two different designed cards. $30 ticket includes supplies to make two cards and a $5 voucher.
2/8: The Puppy Bowl at the Summit
Make a purchase at any Summit location and get a free dog toy or bandana (first 50 guests). The Lexington Humane Society will be present accepting donations and will have dogs and cats there! Furry friends are allowed, but must be leashed.
2/8: Tapas Dinner at Shaker Village
Enjoy a sampling of small plates inspired by the fresh tastes and traditions of Spain. $89 per person, get tickets here.
2/9: Galentine’s Day at The Amsden
Pink drink specials, Valentine’s treats, free yoga and barre classes, braid bar, photo booth and more.
2/9: Jewish Deli Pop-Up at Temple Adath Israel
The temple that puts on the Jewish Food Festival is doing a pop-up deli featuring items like corned beef or pastrami sandwiches and homemade chopped liver.
2/11, 25, 3/3, 10, 13: Food Classes at the Living Arts & Science Center
Learn how to make Keeneland’s bacon jam, Tagliatelle alla Bolognese from Dudley’s executive chef, Tomates Farcies from Martine, falafel sandwiches from the owner of Alfalfa’s, make your own dog treats and more. Tickets are $35.
2/12: Fermenting Basics at Good Foods Co-op
A hands-on demonstration of how to ferment vegetables at home, which is a way of preserving vegetables. Tickets start at $10.
2/13: After Hours Networking at Mirror Twin Brewing
Hosted by the Nomads of Lexington, this event is for those looking for an entrepreneurial community where they can have accountability, support, sound-boarding, and get work done while they’re at it. Pretty Strange Design will lead an optional embroidery class. $15 per embroidery – covers materials & instructions.
2/13: Galentine’s Girls Night Out with Girls on the Run at Pivot Brewing
From 6-9pm, shop from vendors, enjoy food and drink while benefiting Girls on the Run. $10 tickets.
2/14: Scoops & Sweets at Crank & Boom Manchester location
A Valentine’s Day ice cream and dessert buffet includes all you can eat ice cream, sundae bar, fondue dippers and other delicious treats. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids 10 and under.
2/14: Buffalo Love
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Buffalo Trace with a six-course dinner featuring Buffalo Trace bourbons. $110 tickets include an optional tour.
2/14: Woodford Reserve Feast of Saint Valentine
The evening will feature distillery tours, a chef-driven plated meal with paired cocktails and live music. $110 tickets.
2/14-15: Lexington Ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Lexington Opera House
A special performance for Valentine’s Day.
2/15: Onesie Bar Crawl
Tickets start at $5 and get you a wrist band for no cover and drink specials at participating bars, and a costume contest.
2/18-19: The Office! A Musical Parody at Lexington Opera House
A musical parody of everyone’s favorite show. Would be fun Valentine’s gift!
2/20: Gilmore Girls Trivia at Wise Bird Cider
2/21-22: Southland Men’s Conference
Southland Church hosts an annual conference for men with multiple sessions and speakers. The theme is ‘Guarded’ and aims to give men practical tools for guarding what’s most important, starting with their own hearts. Southland also does a women’s conference, but I haven’t seen dates yet.
2/29-3/1: Boutique Bazaar
This is maybe my favorite shopping event of the year. A bunch of local boutiques come together to put on a huge sale at the Oleika Temple. I’ve gotten such great stuff here!
3/1: SQecial’s 48th Anniversary
Food, music, special t-shirt free with $100 purchase and more!
3/2-8: Lexington Taco Week
It’s like Burger Week, but tacos. $5 taco plates from a bunch of local restaurants!
3/14: St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival in downtown Lexington
An all-day celebration that begins at 8am with the Shamrock Shuffle to benefit Lexington Habitat for Humanity. At 10:45am, the “Blessing of the Keg” at the Alltech tents at the Courthouse Plaza kicks off the free daylong Irish festival. The parade begins at 1pm and goes down Main Street from Midland Avenue to Mill Street.
3/18: Cocktails & Candles Class at The Origin
Candle making class with Wixology; you’ll be able to customize your scent. $30 ticket includes one cocktail.
Stay tuned for my Spring Guide, which will be out in early March. Let me know if I missed any fun winter events in the comments below!
Biscuits & blessings,
Leels
