Mother’s Day and Mayfest: The 26 best things to do in and around Lexington this weekend
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 including Mother’s Day events, live music concerts, theatre shows, musicals, classical music performances, kid-friendly and free events, comedy shows and Lexington Craft Beer Week events.
Lexington Craft Beer Week begins
Lexington Craft Beer Week opens May 12 and continues through May 21, with special releases, collaborations and more. Lexbeerscene.com
UnityFest 2023
The Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center will host UnityFest 2023 on May 12 at 7 p.m., an evening of performances showcasing local talent of all ages to take a stand against gun violance. Proceeds go to gun violence advocacy organizations. Pay what you can for tickets. Lexingtonlyric.com
Frankfort Heritage Week
The 3rd annual Frankfort Heritage Week Festival continues through May 14 with the Martha Moore Awards for Historic Preservation, a genealogy workshop, photo presentations and more. For a full list of activities visit FrankfortHeritageWeek.com.
Paris Storytelling Festival
The Paris Storytelling Festival will take place from May 12-14 with speaking engagements, musical jam sessions, horse farm tours and more. For a full list of activities visit ParisStoryFest.com.
CKYO MusicWorks Concert at the Dunbar Community Center
CKYO MusicWorks, Lexington’s El Sistema-inspired free after-school string and wind music ensemble program, will present a concert at the Dunbar Community Center on May 12 at 5:30 p.m. The show is free to attend. 434 N Upper St. LexingtonKy.gov.
Food Truck Friday at Shillito Park
Food Truck Friday will return to Shillito Park on May 12 from 6-9 p.m. with food and refreshments from Teppan Japanese Street Food, Daughter’s Southern, Bert’s SpeakCheesy, Wise Bird Cider Co., West Sixth Brewing and Bella’s Ice Cream. The event is free to attend. 300 W Reynolds Rd. LexingtonKy.gov.
Taste Of Jessamine at the RJ Corman Hanger
Enjoy culinary creations from over 50 chefs while bidding on over 150 silent auction items during the 25th annual Taste of Jessamine at the RJ Corman Hanger in Nicholasville on May 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10-15. 401 Enterprise Dr, Nicholasville. WhatsUpWilmore.com.
Jesse Daniel, IV & The Strange Band, Rob Leines Concerts at The Burl
Get your honky tonk on at The Burl all weekend long with music from Jesse Daniel on May 12, IV & The Strange Band on May 13 and Rob Leines on May 14. The shows all begin at 8 p.m. with tickets costing $15 each. 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com.
National Gathering Of Songfarmers at the Kentucky Music Hall Of Fame
The 7th annual National Gathering of Songfarmers will take place at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in Mt. Vernon on May 12 and 13. Activities include song circles, bluegrass jams, workshops, food, music lessons and more. Tickets are $20 per person per day or free for Woodsongs partners and Woodsongs Front Porch Association members. 2590 Richmond St, Mt. Vernon. SongFarmers.org/2023Gathering.
Mayfest Arts Fair at Gratz Park
The 27th annual Mayfest Arts Fair will take place at Gratz Park on May 13 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and May 14 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. with live music, dancing and other family-friendly activities. The event is free to attend. 250 W Third St. DowntownLex.com.
Spring Sip And Shop at the Central Bank Center
KY Pop-Up Markets will host a Spring Sip and Shop event at the Central Bank Center on May 13 from 12-6 p.m. The event is free to attend. 430 W Vine St. CentralBankCenter.com.
Hannah Howard Concert at The Twisted Cork
Somerset based songwriter Hannah Howard will perform at The Twisted Cork on May 13 at 8 p.m. The show is free to attend. 145 Burt Rd #120. Facebook.com.
Bluegrass Iris Society Spring Iris Show at Lexington Green Mall
The Bluegrass Iris Society will host its annual spring iris show at the Lexington Green Mall on May 13 at 1 p.m. 161 Lexington Green Cir. BluegrassIris.org.
Lexington Chamber Orchestra Concert at Centenary United Methodist Church
The Lexington Chamber Orchestra will hold its first post-pandemic concert at Centenary United Methodist Church on May 13 at 7:30 p.m. The show is free to attend. 2800 Tates Creek Rd. ChamberMusicLex.org.
Brad Hardin Concert at Austin City Saloon
Country music artist Brad Hardin, who’s opened for the likes of Brantlet Gilbert, Jimmie Allen and Jelly Roll, will perform at Austin City Saloon on May 13 at 7 p.m. 2350 Woodhill Dr. Facebook.com.
Disco Night at Manchester Music Hall
Cameron Jayne, Nashville’s premier traveling disco show, will perform at Manchester Music Hall on May 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10-15. 899 Manchester St. ManchesterMusicHall.com.
Bluegrass Indo-American banquet
The Bluegrass Indo-American Civic Society will hold its annual scholarship banquet May 14 at 5 p.m. at The Campbell House. Tickets are $35-$75; tables available. biacs.org
Kentucky Spring Horse Show
The Kentucky Spring Horse Show will be May 9-14 at the Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Parkway. Free with parking fee. kentuckyhorseshows.com
Strawberry Season at Eckert’s Orchard
Pick your own strawberries May 12-14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Eckert’s Orchard, 1396 Pinckard Pike in Versailles. Reservations for field access available online. $3-$6 (with playground access.) versailles.eckerts.com.
StreetFest on Oliver Lewis Way
You ride bikes, scooters, roller skate, jog, skip or walk on a closed city street May 13, 9 a.m.-noon. Oliver Lewis Way will be closed from West High Street to South Broadway for a mile-long car-free loop for the second annual StreetFest. Bounce house, giant bubbles, sidewalk chalk, hula hoops and more. Free. lexingtonky.gov/StreetFest
Mother’s Day Market and Soiree
Mother’s Day Market and Afternoon Soirée May 13 from 12-5 p.m. at International Book Project featuring locally owned businesses like Kumani Arts, January Moore Woodworking, Talon Wine Yelena’s Creations, US Soap and Body, Crescent Moon Creative, 305 Cubano, Pomegranate, Kentucky Green Studio, Cheryl Tipton Designs, Gatwick Beauté Collective, SOL Fitness, a wide selection of books from IBP’s bookstore and more. 1440 Delaware Ave. Free to attend.
Lexington Coffee + Tea Week
Lexington Coffee + Tea Week runs through May 13, with $4 specialty tea and coffee drinks at coffee shops around town. lexingtoncoffeeweek.com
Lexington Coffee and Tea Week: Here are the locations, menu of $4 special drinks
Lexington Farmers Market
Lexington Farmers Market will be downtown at Tandy Centennial Park on Main Street 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 13 and on Southland Drive 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14 with fresh strawberries, lettuce, cut flowers, baked goods, vegetables and fruits, meats and cheeses and more. lexingtonfarmersmarket.com
Festival del Dia de las Madres
Casa de la Cultura de Ky will present a Mother’s Day festival with dancing, food, children’s activities and more. Free to attend. Masterson Station Park, 3051 Leestown Rd.
Bluegrass Farmers Market
Beginning at 9 a.m. on May 13, Bluegrass Farmers Market will have baked goods, fresh vegetables and fruits, cut flowers, local meats and cheese and more. 1837 Plaudit Place. facebook.com/BluegrassFarmersMarket
Athens Schoolhouse Antiques Show
Athens Schoolhouse Antiques Show will be May 13-14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Athens Schoolhouse, 6270 Athens Walnut Hill Pike. Free. antiqueskentucky.com
