SUMMER GUIDE 2016: Your User-Friendly Lexington StayCation Manual
It is a belief we have, as strong as any religion, that home can be preserved and life made everlasting if only we stay put.
—Denise Giardina
Staycation anyone?
Long gone are the days when Lexington was a ghost town from the time the college kids left in May til the day they returned in August.
These days, there’s so much going on every night of the week that it can be a challenge just to narrow it down. There’s live music series, films, fairs, fests, and fun runs. There’s funnelcakes. There’s tomato festivals and block parties. Every neighborhood has something unique to offer, from the annual Big Band/Jazz series at Moondance and Ecton Park, to concerts at Phoenix Park, to movies at the Fountain.
Take the plunge. Use this Guide all summer long until it’s in tatters, then stay tuned to aceweekly.com and our Facebook page for all the latest updates.
And don’t forget to bring your towel.
Here’s our selective guide of the coolest summer events:
SUMMER MUSIC SERIES
Love local music, but just can’t stay up til the bands start at the local bars? Because you have a j.o.b.? Or a k.i.d.?
Relax.
There’s live music in Lexington nearly every night of the week this Summer.
And it’s free. Plus, you can take the kids. And the dogs. And you can still be home by 9, in bed by 10, and up in time for work the next day!
Oh it’s more magical than it sounds.
Big Band and Jazz at MoonDance Amphitheatre
June 7: Joey and the Cruisers
June 14: Walnut Street Ramblers
June 21: Tim Lake and the Blue Jazz Persuaders
June 28: Dimartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra
Big Band and Jazz at Ecton Park
July 12: Osland Dailey Jazztet
July 19: Colonel’s Choice
July 26: Lexington Concert Band
Aug 2: Dave Shelton Jazz Quintet
Aug 9: Dan Brock and Friends
Aug 16: Jazzberry Jam
Aug 23: Rick Cook Quintet
Phoenix Fridays at Phoenix Park
June 17: David Wax Museum | Wax Fang | The Landers
July 15: 7Horse | Star & Micey | Warren Byrom & Fabled Canelands
Aug 19: Vandaveer | Nellie Pearl | Ben Lacy + Friends
Red Barn Radio at ArtsPlace
June 1: Redleg Husky
June 8: The Horse Traders
June 15: Mikaya Taylor
June 29: Tim Lancaster
Southland Jamboree at MoonDance Amphitheatre
It’s still called the Southland Jamboree, but it’s still been relocated to the Beaumont Center’s MoonDance Amphitheatre. And it’s still the some of the best Bluegrass in the area, every Monday at 7 pm.
June 6: Blue Eagle Band
June 13: Cane Run Bluegrass
June 20: Custom Made Bluegrass
June 27: Newtown
July 11: Blue Belles
July 18: Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers
July 25: Dean Osborne
Aug 1: Michael Cleveland and Jeff Guernsey
Aug 8: Uptown Blue
Aug 15: Becky Buller
Aug 22: Combs & Caldwell
Aug 29: Laurel River Line
Sep 5: Samantha Jean & Firegate 33
Summer Nights in Suburbia at MoonDance Amphitheatre
Summer Nights in Suburbia is 7 – 9 pm on Friday nights in June, July, and August at the MoonDance. Live bands plus food and beverage trucks onsite. Remember to bring your lawn chair or blanket for seating.
June 3: Brian Owens and the Deacons of Soul
June 10: Coralee & the Townies
June 17: C the Beat
June 24: Ben Lacy
July 1: Boogie G & the Titanics
July 8: Rebel Without A Cause
July 15: Johnson Brothers
July 22: Kentucky Salsa Allstars
July 29: Patrick McNeese Band
Aug 5: Payback
Aug 12: Other Brothers
Aug 19: March Madness Marching Band
Aug 26: Beatles Tribute Band
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE AT CHEAPSIDE PARK
June 2: The Trendells
June 9: The Johnson Brothers
June 16: Tony and the Tan Lines
June 23: Boogie G and the Titanics
June 30: Flashback
July 7: Five Below Band
July 14: Better Off Dead
July 21: The Twiggenburys
July 28: Tim Talbert Project
Aug 4: Bobby Perry Band
Aug 11: Prime Cut
Aug 18: Conch Republic
Aug 25: Kenny Owens and Group Therapy
Sep 1: Mercy Men
Sep 8: Ralph Curtis and the Nashville Imposters
Sep 15: Superfecta
Sep 22: Big Black Cadillac
Sep 29: Blind Corn Liquor Pickers
Oct 6: Mike Archer Band
Oct 13: Vinyl Richie
WOODSONGS AT THE LYRIC THEATRE
June 6: Shel and Gabriel Kelley
June 13: Samantha Fish and Terry “Harmonica” Bean
June 20: Michael Hedges, Andy McKee, and Christie Lenee
SUMMER FILM SERIES IN LEXINGTON
No need to go on that vacation to California this summer; Hollywood is coming to Lexington. There’s a movie series somewhere in Lexington almost every day of the week, whether you’re looking for a cult classic, a regular classic, an environmentally conscious documentary, or something for the whole family.
Big Screen Classics at Cinemark at The Mall
July 24: Planet of the Apes
August 14: Animal House
August 28: The King and I
September 18: Dr. Strangelove
October 23: The Shining
Cult Film Series at Al’s Bar
June 2: Last Man on Earth
July 7: Suicide Club
Aug 4: Time Bandits
Sep 1: Freddie Got Fingered
Oct 6: The Wicker Man
Nov 3: Modesty Blaise
Dec 1: True Stories
Farish Films at the Central Library
June 2: Family Film – Inside Out
June 3: Family Film – The Good Dinosaur
June 7: Good Foods Co-op Film Series: Food Matters
June 10: Family Film – Stuart Little
June 11: Harry Dean Stanton Fest: 92 in the Shade
June 11: Harry Dean Stanton Fest: Straight Time
June 12: Good Foods Co-op Film Series: Food Chains
June 17: Family Film – Zootopia
June 20: Family Film – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
June 24: Family Film – E.T.
Free Friday Flicks at Jacobson Park
Bring your lawn chair, blankets, and pack a picnic dinner or purchase concessions from one of the onsite vendors.
June 3: Inside Out
June 10: Minions
June 17: The Peanuts Movie
June 24: Kung Fu Panda 3
Fountain Films on Friday
In the long shadow of Rupp Arena, you can enjoy the movies outdoors — like a drive-in, but without cars. Triangle Park, between W. Main Street and W. Vine Street. Movies start at approximately 9 pm.
July 15: Rocky (40 Year Anniversary)
July 22: Elf (Christmas in July)
July 29: Top Gun (30 Year Anniversary)
Aug 5: The Bad New Bears (40 Year Anniversary)
Aug 12: The Labyrinth (David Bowie Tribute)
Aug 19: The Addams Family
Hollywood Movie Classic at the Kentucky Theatre
June 1: Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
June 8: The Maltese Falcon (1941)
June 15: The King and I (1956)
June 22: Labyrinth (1986)
June 29: Spartacus (1960)
July 6: The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
July 13: Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
July 20: The Birds (1963)
July 27: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Aug 3: Hud (1963)
Aug 10: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Aug 17: Way Out West (1937)
Aug 24: The Princess Bride (1987)
Aug 31: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Lyric Summer Film Series at The Lyric Theatre
The 5th year of the Summer Film Series at the Lyric aims to bridge the gap between the classics and films coming out today. These films not only highlight the talent of African American actors, directors, and musicians, but show common thematic connections that span generations and continue to inspire, embolden, and empower.
June 5: Imitation of Life (1934)
June 12: The Butler (2013)
June 19: Stormy Weather (1943)
June 26: The Wiz (1978)
July 10: Lilies of the Field (1963)
July 17: Selma (2014)
July 24: Lean on Me (1989)
July 31: 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Met Opera Summer Encores at Cinemark at The Mall
June 22: Tosca
June 29: L’Elisir d’Amore
July 13: La Boheme
July 20: Cosi fan tutte
Summer RUNS
Refuse to celebrate National Donut Day and then recuperate by lying by the pool all summer? Well. It takes all kinds.
Here’s a sampling of area runs in the Bluegrass: everything from 5Ks to overnight triathlons.
Friday, June 3: North Lime Donut Dash 3K, 6:30 pm, Wellington Park
Come burn off your National Donut Day calories with this chip-timed 3K at South Lexington’s Wellington Park. A portion of the race proceeds benefit Nourish Your Neighborhood, a new non-profit in Lexington fighting hunger in the community.
Saturday, June 4: Funky Fun Prom Run, 6:30 pm, Coldstream Park
Sunday, June 5: Run for the Hill 5K, 1 pm, Keeneland
Saturday, June 11: 5K on the Runway, 8 am, Blue Grass Airport
Fly through this course that will take you both on and off the runway of the Blue Grass Airport. There will be entertainment at the finish line, including music, concessions, activities for kids, and more.
Saturday, June 11: Dress for Success Powerwalk 5K, 8:30 am, Coldstream Park
Friday, June 17: Ironcology Survive the Night Triathalon, 7 pm
Teams will embark on a full distance triathlon relay. The race begins as a 4000m swim in the Spindletop Hall lap pool. Runners then head to the Kentucky Horse Park, where teams complete 21 laps around the 5-mile cycling course, for a total of 109 miles. Teams then send runners along the 27-mile segmented route through thoroughbred country before finishing back at Spindletop.
Saturday, June 18: W6K West Sixth and Broke Spoke Sunset Run, 7:30 pm
Begins and ends at Coolavin Park, taking runners through downtown Lexington and a portion of the Legacy Trail. All proceeds go to the Broke Spoke Community Bike Shop. This will be a timed, out and back 6K course. When runners are finished, they can head over to West Sixth for food from Smithtown Seafood and Red State Barbeque, as well as commemorative pint glasses.
Friday, June 24: Sunset Tiki 5K, 7 pm, Coldstream Park
Monday, July 4: Bluegrass 10K, 7:30 am, downtown
The 10K winds through the heart of Downtown Lexington. Crank & Wheelchair Divisions at 7:25 am, the 10K at 7:30 am, and a one mile Fun Run at 8:15 am.
Sunday, July 24: BreyerFest 5K & 1 Mile, 8 am, Kentucky Horse Park
Saturday, Aug 13: A Midsummer Night’s Run, 8 am, downtown
Choose from the 5K, 1 Mile, or Fastest Kid in Town, or any combination of the three.
Saturday, Aug 20: Kentucky Blood Run 5K, 6:30 pm, Kentucky Blood Center at Beaumont Center Circle
FAIRS AND FESTS
By the time Summer arrives, we’ve gotten a few of these under our belt (MayFest, Francisco’s Farm), but the first funnelcake of the season isn’t official til the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Fair. The final funnelcake of the season must be consumed at the Woodland Art Fair.
June 2 – 5: Seton County Fair at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
June 3 – 5: Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville
June 9 – 12: Festival of the Bluegrass at Kentucky Horse Park
June 10: Warehouse Block Block Party, National Avenue
June 10: Food Truck Friday
June 10 – 12: 6th Annual Harry Dean Stanton Fest
June 15 – 19: PlayThink Festival in Berea
June 17 – 19: Terrapin Hill Family Reunion
June 25: Lexington Pride Festival at Courthouse Plaza
June 30 – July 24: Summerfest at Woodland Park
July 4: Street Festival and Parade on Main Street and July 4th Live at Cheapside Park
July 14 – 17: Concours d’Elegance at Keeneland
July 15 – 17: Forecastle Festival
July: TomatoFest at The Arboretum
Aug 4 – 7: Ballet Under the Stars at Woodland Park
Aug 12: Food Truck Friday
Aug 18 – 28: Kentucky State Fair in Louisville
Aug 19 – 20: Picnic with the Pops at Keeneland
Aug 20 – 21: Woodland Art Fair at Woodland Park
Aug: Chevy Chase Street Fair
Sep 10: Doggie Paddle at Woodland Park
Sep 16 – 17: Festival Latino de Lexington at Cheapside Pavilion
This article also appears on pages 5-7 of the June 2016 issue of Ace.
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