The 4th of July holiday is upon us and in order to help you make the most of it, we’ve collected everything you need to know about the long weekend in Lexington. Be safe and enjoy.
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Wednesday July 2, 2014
The Great American Pie Contest and Ice Cream Social is one of the first events of this year’s 4th of July Festival in downtown Lexington.
It will be held at noon on Wednesday, July 2, in the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion at Cheapside Park.
Thursday July 3, 2014
The Annual Free Patriotic Concert is at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 3, on the lawn of the Old Morrison building at Transylvania University (part of Lexington’s July 4 festival, 2014).
The following streets will be closed:
- Third St between Broadway and Upper St,
- Mill St and Market St between Second and Third St.
Friday July 4, 2014
The day of festivities begins with a good workout, the Bluegrass 10,000 Run at 7:30 am.
After you win the 10 K, consider stopping by the Lexington downtown street festival, featuring arts and crafts, food and beverages, and commercial vendors, from 9 am to 6 pm. The Lexington Parade lines up on Midland Avenue and begins at 2 pm.
Here are a few of the live acts you might want to catch throughout the day:
Chamber Music w/ Flutes 1 pm Billboard Parking Lot
Kava Java Trio 4 pm Billboard Parking Lot
The Barrows 11:30 am Cheapside Park
Cane Run Bluegrass 1 pm Cheapside Park
Bent Penny band, LLC 3:30 pm Cheapside Park
Dave Butler 11:30 am Phoenix Park
Lost Dog 1 pm Phoenix Park
Dimestore Diplomats 4 pm Phoenix Park
The Empty Bottle String Band 10 am Short & Upper St.
Mike Archer 11:30 am Short & Upper St.
Heavily Harmonizers 1 pm Short & Upper St.
Rural Electric Band 4 pm Short & Upper St.
Midlife Harmony 1 pm Upper Courthouse Plaza
Off The Clock 4 pm Upper Courthouse Plaza
If you need a break from the downtown area before the fireworks begin, you can check out the Independence Day NoLi Night Market at 700 Bryan Ave. from 7 to 10 pm.
Finish the national holiday with the classic fireworks display at 10 pm downtown.
Saturday July 5, 2013
The Red, White and Boom! concert will be held Saturday and Sunday July 5 and July 6 at Legends ballpark. As of press, concert organizers reported the show has sold out.
On Friday, July 4, 2014 Lextran routes will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Lexington’s Fourth of July Festival will go as planned, rain or shine. Certain activities are subject to cancellation throughout the day if weather becomes threatening. Downtown Lexington Corporation encourages everyone to use their judgment when deciding whether or not to attend the Festival.
FIREWORKS
Lexington Professional Firefighters Local 526 reminds us “even sparklers can reach 1200 degrees fahrenheit.” Fireworks are not for kids. “The best way to enjoy fireworks and prevent injury is to watch a professional show.”
View Lexington’s fireworks enforcement code here.
Lexington Professional Fire Fighters July 4 Public Safety Checklist
If you’re setting off your own fireworks, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends taking these precautions.
- Only buy fireworks from a licensed seller (not from someone on the street or from someone’s house)
- Read and follow the directions on the fireworks before lighting them
- Have water handy in case of an emergency
- Only use fireworks in an open, outdoor area
- Light the fireworks on a hard surface and be cautious of any wind
- Have a designated person to set off the fireworks who avoids alcohol and does not wear loose clothing
- Make sure that the designated person wears safety goggles and close toed shoes
- Do not alter or combine fireworks
- Aim the firework away from houses, dry leaves, flammable materials and people
- Never extend a body part over the devise
- Light one firework at a time
- Never relight a “dud” firework
- Wait 20 minutes after setting off the firework to approach it, and then soak it in water
July 4, 2014 Closings In Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government offices will be closed on July 4. Kentucky state government offices will be closed. The U.S. Postal Service will be closed. Banks are closed. The Lexington Recycling Center, the city’s Electronic Recycling Center and the Haley Pike Waste Management facility will be closed on the holiday.
Fourth of July holiday Trash Collection in Lexington
The Division of Waste Management will adjust its collection schedule for the Fourth of July holiday on Friday, July 4. Residents whose regular collection day is on Friday will receive their collection service on Wednesday, July 2 – two days before the holiday.
Residents who normally receive Friday pick-up should place their Herbies, Rosies and Lenny carts out on Tuesday night, July 1, to assure collection on Wednesday.
Businesses that have city waste management services for their dumpsters (landfill bound and recycling) and normally have pickups on Thursdays will have their units picked up on Wednesday, July 2, while those who normally have pickups on Fridays, will have their units picked up on Thursday, July 3.
For more information, contact LexCall at 311 or (859) 425-2255.
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Street Closures on July 4th by Event
I. Bluegrass 10,000: 5 am to 10 am
Bluegrass 10,000, 5 to 10 a.m.: Main Street will be closed from Broadway to St. Ann Drive and Lakeshore Drive; Short Street will be closed from Broadway to North Martin Luther King Boulevard; North Mill Street will be closed from Third Street to Vine Street; North Upper Street from Third Street to Vine Street; North Limestone from High Street to East Third Street, and Martin Luther King from High Street to East Third Street.
II. Parade & Festival: 11 am to 4 pm
Parade, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Main Street from Walton Avenue to Broadway; Short Street from Broadway to Midland Avenue; Rose Street from High Street to Corral Street; Midland Avenue from Winchester Road to Main Street; Mill Street from Vine Street to Short Street; Upper Street from Vine Street to Church Street; Limestone from Vine Street to Short Street, and Martin Luther King from Main Street to Short Street.
Festival area, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Short Street from Broadway to Martin Luther King Boulevard; North Limestone from Main Street to Short Street, and Main Street from Martin Luther King to Cheapside.
IV. Fireworks: 9 pm to 11 pm
Fireworks, 9 to 11 p.m.: West Main Street from Broadway to Forbes Road; Manchester Street from Oliver Lewis Way to Forbes Road; Jefferson Street from High to West Second Street; High Street from Broadway to Oliver Lewis Way (during fireworks only), and Broadway from Vine to Short Street.
Other Changes Due to Downtown Construction
Lexington’s 4th of July Parade will follow its same route as always, however, those downtown to view the parade will not be allowed to line up on streets and sidewalks where construction is in progress.
Certain festivities once held on the Centrepointe pasture (now a massive construction site), have been relocated to other downtown locations including:
- Food trucks and other vendors will be located around Short Street between Limestone and Mill.
- The pony rides have moved from Centrepointe to the corner of Short & Limestone.
- A stage has been added to the Billboard Parking Lot on the corner of Short & Limestone (for acts playing there, see above).
The Helix Garage, once a place where watchers might congregate for a better view of the parade, is currently undergoing a facelift that will make the garage more interesting to look at but less useful as a place to watch the parade.
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