Berea, Midway festivals & more: 20 things to do in & around Lexington this weekend

Matt Wickstrom

Here is a Lexington list and guide of the best weekend events around Central Kentucky on Friday, Saturday and Sunday if you are bored and need things to do from live music concerts, festivals featuring games, rides and food, comedy shows, local concerts, arts and crafts fairs, kid-friendly events, gallery events and foodie events like a craft beer festival and a margarita party.

Park(ing) Day 2022

LexPark, the Lexington Parking Authority, is participating in Park(ing) Day, a global event to advocate for safe, greener and more equitable downtown areas. Some parking spaces downtown, including on Short Street near Tandy Park will be blocked off from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 16 for social interaction, art exhibits and mini parks by Bluegrass Crime Stoppers, UK School of Art & Visual Studies, Lexington Parks & Rec and more. Free, myparkingday.org

Spoonbread Festival in Berea

The 2022 Spoonbread Festival will take place at the Berea Folk Center from Sept. 16-18 with a variety of family-friendly entertainment and of course lots of spoonbread. The event is free to attend and kicks off with carnival rides and games at 3 p.m. Sept. 16. 212 W Jefferson St, Berea. BereaChamberOfCommerce.org/Spoonbread-Festival.

Carnegie Center 30 year anniversary

Meet the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning staff, learn about its programs, and enjoy cupcakes and other small bites during the Center’s 30 year anniversary celebration on Sept. 16 from 5-7 p.m. The event is free to attend. 251 W Second St. CarnegieCenterLex.org/Events/Carnegies-30th-Birthday-Celebration-An-Open-House/.

LexArts Gallery HOP

LexArts will host its monthly gallery hop on Sept. 16 from 5-8 p.m. at galleries and businesses throughout downtown Lexington. The event is free to attend. LexArts.org/Discover/LexArts-Hop.

A dancer performed earlier this year at an event hosted by the Casa de la Cultura de Kentucky. The organization’s Viva Mexico celebration will feature dancers of all ages performing traditional dances.
A dancer performed earlier this year at an event hosted by the Casa de la Cultura de Kentucky. The organization’s Viva Mexico celebration will feature dancers of all ages performing traditional dances.

Mexico Independence Day Celebration at Gardenside Plaza

The Greater Gardenside Association and Casa de la Cultura are hosting a celebration of Mexico’s Independence at Gardenside Plaza on Sept. 16 from 5-11 p.m. with live music, food and other activities. The event is free to attend. 1729 Alexandria Dr. GreaterGardenside.org.

Mexican Independence Day isn’t Cinco de Mayo. Celebrate at this Lexington festival.

Sunset Salsa at Moondance Amphitheater

Join The Salsa Center for an evening of sunset salsa dancing and live music at Moondance Amphitheater on Sept. 16 from 6-9 p.m. The event is free to attend. 1152 Monarch St. facebook.com/events/841004787285705.

Central Library After Hours: Kentucky Afield Illustrated

Meet wildlife artist Rick Hill and some of his wild friends from the Salato Wildlife Education Center during After Hours at the Central Library on Sept. 16 from 6-8 p.m. Hill’s prints will also be on site for viewing and purchase at the free event. 140 E Main St. facebook.com/events/828253238189529.

Comedian Jamie Lissow at Comedy Off Broadway

Comedian Jamie Lissow will perform at Comedy Off Broadway on Sept. 16 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Sept. 17 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $18-20. 161 Lexington Green Cir #C4. ComedyOffBroadway.com.

Benefit show: ‘Chords For Clark’ at the Leeds Center For The Arts

Enjoy an evening of choral music, barbershop quartets, and comedy at the sixth annual Chords for Clark concert, a benefit show for the choirs of George Rogers Clark High School taking place at Winchester’s Leeds Center For The Arts on Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8-12. 37 N Main St, Winchester. Eventbrite.com.

The Grand Theatre in downtown Frankfort opened in 1911.
The Grand Theatre in downtown Frankfort opened in 1911.

Asleep At The Wheel concert in Frankfort

Legendary American roots band Asleep At The Wheel will perform at the Grand Theatre in Frankfort on Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35-50. 308 St. Clair St, Frankfort. TheGrandKy.com.

Family Dog concert at The Burl

Family Dog will perform alongside NP Presley and Honeyboy at The Burl on Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com.

Midway Fall Festival

The 48th annual Midway Fall Festival will take place on the downtown streets of the historic Central Kentucky town on Sept. 17 and 18 with live music, arts and crafts vendors, sorghum and pottery demonstrations and more. The event is free to attend. MidwayFallFestival.com.

Saturday Sessions with artist Kelly Brewer

LexArts Gallery presents interactive painting demonstration with artist Kelly Brewer, for ages 6-12, 10 a.m. Sept. 17. Free breakfast pastries and juice and gallery tour. To request seats, message rsvp@lexarts.org, 161 N. Mill St., LexArts.org

Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

The Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival will take place at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg on Sept. 17 from noon-10 p.m. and Sept. 18 from noon-6 p.m. with a variety of live jazz performances. The event is free to attend. 3501 Lexington Rd, Harrodsburg. shakervillageky.org.

Bluegrass Craft Beer and Bourbon Festival at Moondance Amphitheater

The inaugural Bluegrass Craft Beer and Bourbon Festival will take place Sept. 17 from noon-6 p.m. at Moondance Amphitheater, 1152 Monarch St. For $45 get unlimited samples of all beers or for $65, get beer and bourbon samples. There will be live entertainment, food trucks and designated drivers. eventbrite.com

Black Pride Festival at Woodland Park

The annual Black Pride Festival will be held Sept. 17 from 1 p.m.-7 p.m. at Woodland Park, 601 High St. There will be vendors, food, speakers a drag show and more. On Sept. 18 from noon-4 p.m. for $20 there will be a drag Sunday gospel brunch at the Chill Spot Lounge, 680 Lima Dr. facebook.com/events/372966484953695

Lexington Figure Fest at Oleika Shriners

Browse over 15,000 square feet of toys and action figures during the Lexington Figure Fest at Oleika Shriners on Sept. 18 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are $5-10. 326 Southland Dr. LexingtonFigureFest.com.

Margarita Madness at Manchester Music Hall

Enjoy a variety of specially curated margaritas during Margarita Madness at Manchester Music Hall on Sept. 18 at noon. Tickets start at $15 and include one free margarita. 899 Manchester St. ManchesterMusicHall.com.

Lexington Public Library Nature Hop: Cool Caterpillars, Butterflies and a Story Book Trail

The Tates Creek Branch of the Lexington Public Library, 3628 Walden Dr., will celebrate Lexington’s fifth annual Nature Hop with caterpillars and butterflies on Sept. 18 from 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. The kid-friendly free event will meet in the large conference room and feature a self-guided story walk to the Monarch Way Station. https://www.lexpublib.org/

Gordon Lightfoot concert at the Lexington Opera House

Folk-rock legend Gordon Lightfoot, who has been called Canada’s greatest songwriter, will perform a concert Spet. 18 at 8 p.m. at the Lexington Opera House. A career spaning more than 50 years, Lightfoot is known for “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “If You Could Read My Mind” and “Sundown,” which was one in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. $107-$420. lexingtonoperahouse.com

Matt Wickstrom is a freelancer covering food, music and more. You can follow him on Instagram at @WickstromWrites .

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