Compiled by Rebecca Feigin
Who ever said you needed to leave town to have fun?
Lexington, Kentucky is stay-cation city this summer.
If you’re looking for who/ what/ where / when of some of Lexington’s most popular summer series — like Thursday Night Live, Hollywood Movie Classics at the Kentucky Theatre, Big Band/Jazz, Southland Jamboree, Free Friday Flicks and more — this is the Summer Guide for you.
SUMMER LIVE MUSIC SERIES
Live music in the Summer in Lexington includes everything from jazz and big band to bluegrass and everything in between, in every corner of the city. Whether you prefer to hit the heart of downtown or sitting on a blanket on some suburban grass enjoying live tunes, Lexington has you covered. There is live music nearly every day of the week during summer. Have kids? Bring them along. Do your dogs need some outdoor time? They can come too! Nearly all of the music is local and most of this live music programming is free.
Big Band and Jazz at Moondance Amphitheater
June 6 Dick Domek and the Walnut Street Ramblers
June 13 Tim Lake and the Blue Jazz Persuaders
June 20 Dave Shelton with Angie Ortega, Danny Cecil and Paul Deatherage
June 27 Raleigh Dailey with Danny Cecil and Paul Deatherage
Big Band and Jazz at Ecton Park
July 11 DOJO (DiMartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra)
July 18 Lexington Concert Band
July 25 Miles Osland Little Big Band
August 1 Bill McGinnis and Colonel’s Choice
August 8 Rick Cook Quintet
August 15 Dan Brock Quintet
August 22 Vince DiMartino with Dave Shelton, Hunt Butler, Robert Griffin and Ryan McGillicuddy
August 29 Byron Romanowitz and Jazzberry Jam
Lakeside Live at Lexington Green
June 2 Radio 80
June 3 The Quack
June 9 Rays Music Exchange
June 10 Alt90
June 16 Aly’An
June 17 Korey Hunt & Friends
June 23 Superfecta
June 24 Sean Meadows
June 29 Karaoke on the Big Stage
June 30 Ben Lacy & Friends
July 1 Boogie G
July 2 Lexington Singers
July 7 Wannabeatles
July 8 Big Maracas
July 14 The Ark Band
July 15 Paul Childers
July 21 The Twiggenburys
July 22 The Wooks
July 27 Karaoke on the Big Stage
July 28 Zack Attack
July 29 The Throwbacks
August 4 Triage
August 5 Brother Smith
August 11 The Distraxions
August 12 Encore
August 18 Vanguard
August 19 County Wide
August 25 Kudmani
August 26 Jordan English
August 31 Karaoke on the Big Stage
September 1 Ben Lacy & Friends
September 2 Space Cowboyz
September 8 Grayson Jenkins Band
September 9 Rays Music Exchange
September 15 Lauren Mink Band
September 16 Tee Dee Young
September 22 The Ark Band
September 23 Sean Meadows
September 28 Karaoke on the Big Stage
September 29 Them Hamilton Boys
September 30 Boogie G
Southland Jamboree at Moondance Amphitheatre
June 5 Cane Run Bluegrass
June 12 Blue Belles
June 19 Uptown Blue
June 26 Newtown
July 3 Blue Eagle Band
July 10 Billie Renee and Cumberland Gap
July 17 Custom Made Bluegrass
July 24 Dean Osborne
July 31 Michael Cleveland and Jeff Guernsey
August 7 TBD
August 14 The Local Honeys
August 21 Becky Buller & Ned Luberecki
August 28 Laurel River Line
September 4 Samantha Jean & Firegate 33
Summer Nights in Suburbia at Moondance Amphitheater
June 2 Coralee and the Townies
June 9 Debraun Thomas
June 16 Johnny Conqueroo
June 23 C the Beat
June 30 Johnson Brothers
July 7 Justin Paul Lewis
July 14 Boogie G & the Titanics
July 21 Bridge 19
July 28 Bruce Lewis Band
August 4 Baja Yetis
August 11 Rebel
August 18 Other Brothers
August 25 1971 – A Happening
Thursday Night Live at Cheapside Pavilion
June 1 Charlie Shuck
June 8 The Big Maracas
June 15 The Johnson Brothers
June 22 Tim Talbert Project
June 29 Better Off Dead
July 6 Prime Cut Band
July 13 The Twiggenburys
July 20 Boogie G and the Titantics
July 27 64West
August 3 Grayson Jenkins
August 10 Superfecta
August 17 Conch Republic
August 24 Kenny Owens and Group Therapy
August 31 Yellow Dye #5
September 7 Mercy Men
September 14 Five Below Band
September 21 Honeychild
September 28 Rebel Without A Cause
SUMMER FILM SERIES
If you love movies, but could use a break from the long lines at the summer blockbuster multiplexes, Lexington is filled with summer film series. From cult films to Hollywood classics, the options are endless.
Cult Film Series At Al’s Bar
June 6 After Hours
July 4 Porky’s
August 1 Lawnmower Man
September 5 Society
Farish Films At The Central Library (downtown)
June 1 Kung Fu Panda 3
June 6 The Secret Life of Pets
June 8 Inside Out
June 13 Kubo and the Two Strings
June 20 Charlotte’s Web
June 22 Ratatouille
June 27 Sing
June 29 Wall-E
July 6 Big Hero 6
July 11 Moana
July 13 The Peanuts Movie
July 18 The Good Dinosaur
July 20 The BFG
July 25 Pete’s Dragon
July 27 Monsters University
Free Friday Flicks at Jacobson Park
June 2 Beauty and the Beast (1991)
June 9 Moana
June 16 The LEGO Batman Movie
June 23 Trolls
June 30 Sing
Fountain Films on Friday at Triangle Park
July 14 Spaceballs
July 21 Nightmare Before Christmas
July 28 Happy Gilmore
August 4 Mean Girls
August 11 The Mask
August 18 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Hollywood Movie Classics At The Kentucky Theatre
June 7 My Fair Lady
June 14 The Manchurian Candidate
June 21 Mary Poppins
June 28 Vertigo
July 5 Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast
July 12 O Brother, Where Art Thou?
July 19 Harold And Maude
July 26 To Kill A Mockingbird
August 2 The Glenn Miller Story
August 9 The Lion In Winter
August 16 The Night Of The Hunter
August 23 Monty Python And The Holy Grail
August 30 The Big Lebowski
September 13 Serenity With The Kentucky Browncoats
Black Lens Summer Film Series at the Lyric Theater
June 9 Ali
June 23 Carmen Jones
July 14 Southside With You
July 28 Fences
Run for it!
Our beautiful bluegrass offers some of the most scenic routes in the country for runners. This summer’s options include everything from fun strolls to more serious fare for more serious contenders.
Many of the runs benefit charity, and some even conclude with ice cream or beer. Just a little added bonus to your work out.
June 2 North Lime Donut Dash 5k, Lexington Christian Academy
June 3 Run For The Nun 5k, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
June 3 Great American Fitness Challenge – Lexington, University of Kentucky
June 10 West Sixth Funky Fun Prom Run, West Sixth Brewery
June 16 Ironcology Survive The Night, Commonwealth Stadium
June 17 Crank & Boom Sprint For Scoops 3k, Wellington Park
June 17 Wild Hearts Fun Run Superhero 5k, Keeneland
June 18 Father’s Day 5k Run For Prostate Cancer, Coldstream Research Park
July 4 Bluegrass 10,000 and Fun Run, Downtown Lexington
July 8 Lexus of Lexington 5k, Keeneland
July 16 BreyerFest 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, Kentucky Horse Park
July 22 Run For Recovery 5k, Keeneland
August 5 Great Amazing Race Lexington, Shillito Park
August 12 A Midsummer Night’s Run, Downtown Lexington
September 9 CASA Superhero Run, Kentucky Horse Park
September 23 Horsin’ Around XC 5k, Safe Haven Equine Ministries
Oct 13-15 Bourbon Chase Relay on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Oct 15 Iron Horse Half Marathon in Midway
Oct 21 Race For The Cure at Courthouse Plaza
FAIRS, Fests, and Events
Prepare to feast on funnel cakes and food truck eats all summer long. There are fairs, fests, and events every weekend, and you’ll never be at a loss of what to do this summer.
June 1-4 Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville
June 1-4 St Elizabeth Ann Seton Fair
June 3 Bluegrass Greensource GreenFest
June 8-11 Festival of the Bluegrass at Kentucky Horse Park
June 10 Mutt Strutt at Keeneland, benefiting Lexington Humane
June 14-18 PlayThink Festival in Berea
June 24 Lexington Pride Festival at Courthouse Plaza
July 3-4 Lexington’s Fourth of July Festival in Downtown Lexington
July 6-16 SummerFest at Woodland Park (this year’s offering is The Wiz)
July 13 Bluegrass Fair begins
July 14-16 Forecastle at Louisville Waterfront Park
July 15 Concours d’Elegance at Keeneland
Aug 3-6 Ballet Under the Stars at Woodland Park
Aug 17-27 Kentucky State Fair at Kentucky Exposition Center
August 18-19 Picnic With The Pops, Keeneland
Aug 19-20 Woodland Art Fair at Woodland Park
August 24 Chamber Music Festival at Downtown Arts Center
Sept 1-3 Red White & Boom at Whitaker Bank Ballpark
Sept 8-10 The Kentucky State BBQ Festival at Wilderness Trail Distillery
Sept 9 Doggie Paddle at Woodland Aquatic Center
Sept 15-16 Festival Latino de Lexington at Courthouse Plaza
Home and Garden Events
If you’ve watched a little too much HGTV and now have serious home and garden envy, Lexington has dozens of local opportunities for you to get your HG fix.
June 3-4 Open Gates to Bluegrass Living Garden Tour
June 4 Kenwick Bungalow Tour
June 9 Garden Grill Out and Bee Home Build at 311 Nelson Avenue, Lexington
June 10 2017 Spring Garden Tour and Plant Sale in Woodford County
July 21-23 Home Builders Association Grand Tour of Homes
July 28-30 Home Builders Association Grand Tour of Homes
August 26-27 BIA Professional Remodelers Tour of Remodeled Homes
YOGA
What’s better than yoga? Yoga outside! Take your pick or pick them all.
June 3 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary (1 pm)
June 5 Yoga in the Park at Kentucky Horsepark
June 7 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
June 10 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
June 10 Paddle + Yoga at Shaker Village
June 14 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
June 17 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
June 18 Summer Solstice Yoga at Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, 11 am
June 21 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
June 24 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
July 30 Soul Cleanse Festival at Farmington Historic Plantation in Louisville
YMCA will also be offering Sunrise Yoga Classes in Triangle Park on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
This article also appears on page 5 of the June 2017 issue of Ace.
For a complete calendar — including rain dates (if they happen) and updates — go to aceweekly.com.
For more Lexington, Kentucky arts, food, culture, and entertainment news, click here to subscribe to the Ace digital e-dition, emailed to your inbox every Thursday morning.
