The 17 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 from live music concerts and festivals, comedy shows, outdoor movies, festivals and fairs, dance shows, concert series, theatre plays, musicals, film festivals and foodie events.

Lexington Restaurant Week offers big menu

Lexington Restaurant Week runs from July 21 to July 31 with the biggest selection of menu options in the event’s history. A total of 38 local restaurant locations are participating, including newcomers The Tulip Bar & Bistro, The BVLD Grill, ItalX, Gus’s World Famous Chicken and Castle Farm at the Kentucky Castle. Local restaurants will feature various menus ranging in price from $19, $29 and $39. Customers have the option to choose appetizer, one entrée and one dessert as part of each special menu. lexingtonrestaurantweek.com

38 local dining spots on tap for Lexington Restaurant Week. Here’s the list, menus.

Franklin County Fair & Horse Show at Lakeview Park

The Franklin County Fair & Horse Show runs through July 23 at Lakeview Park in Frankfort with livestock shows, beauty pageants, a talent show, a BBQ and burgoo cook-off and more. The event starts at 2:30 p.m. on July 22 and 10 a.m. on July 23. Tickets are $10. 118 Park Ave., Frankfort. facebook.com/groups/27672394210.

Comedian Preacher Lawson at Comedy Off Broadway

Comedian Preacher Lawson, a contestant from season 12 of “America’s Got Talent,” will perform at Comedy Off Broadway five times between July 22 and 24. Show times are on July 22 at 7 and 9:30 p.m., July 23 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. and July 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $28. 161 Lexington Green Cir #C4. ComedyOffBroadway.com.

‘Shrek The Musical’ at the Lexington Children’s Theatre

The Lexington Children’s Theatre will present “Shrek The Musical” as its annual Summer Family Musical, July 21-July 31. It’s the 19th time the theatre group has done this kind of special production that gives students and families a chance to perform together. This weekend’s show times are on July 22 at 7 p.m. and July 23 and 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20-25. 418 W Short St. LCTOnStage.org.

William Shakespeare’s ‘Measure For Measure’ at Woodland Park

The Appalachian Shakespeare Center at EKU will present William Shakespeare’s “Measure For Measure” at Woodland Park on July 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. Food trucks and vendors like Spotz Gelato, Teppan Japanese Street Food, Griffin’s Kitchen, Nathan’s Taqueria, Kona Ice, Pivot Brewery and Dreaming Creek Brewery will be on site from 6-8 p.m. each night. Tickets are $10-15. 601 E High St. facebook.com/events/410224211138412.

Allegro Dance Project’s ‘Headspace’ at Moondance Amphitheater

The Allegro Dance Project, a local non-profit with the mission of educating, entertaining and inspiring new audiences through the art of dance, will present its production “Headspace” at Moondance Amphitheater on July 22, 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit Allegro’s inclusive dance outreach program that serves children with special needs. Tickets are $5-15. 1152 Monarch St. AllegroDanceProject.org/Events.html.

Morgan Wade concert at The Burl

Sony Music Nashville signed and Floyd, Va. based country artist Morgan Wade will return to The Burl to perform an outdoor show with J.D. Clayton on July 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets are currently sold out. 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com.

Studio Players 10-Minute Play Festival

Studio Players, Kentucky’s oldest community-involved theatre, will have a 10-Minute Play Festival at the Carriage House, 154 W. Bell Ct. Seven fast-paced plays will be shown 8 p.m. July 22-23 and 2:30 p.m. July 24. Tickets are $17. scfatickets.com

Character Fest at the Kentucky Theatre

Character Fest, July 22-24, is a new spin-off film festival following last week’s Harry Dean Stanton Fest that will honor a different character actor or actress every year at the Kentucky Theatre. The first honoree is Sy Richardson who was in “Repo Man” and boasts over 100 other film and TV credits including “Posse” (which he co-wrote) and “They Live.” Richardson will join for the weekend of screenings of his work. First up is “Reop Man” 8:30 p.m. July 22 followed by six other films through July 24. $9.50 for each film screening, $50 all-movie pass. https://www.kentuckytheatre.org/character-fest

The Amsden’s Summer Movie Nights in downtown Versailles

The Amsden in Versailles will host a free outdoor movie double feature of the 1961 and 1998 versions of “The Parent Trap” on July 22 at 8:30 p.m. 151 S Main St, Versailles. facebook.com/events/432890212178532.

Shepherd’s House Run For Recovery 5K at Keeneland

The Shepherd’s House, which operates several Recovery Treatment Programs throughout Central Kentucky, will host the Shepherd’s House Run For Recovery 5K at Keeneland on July 23 at 8 a.m. Tickets are $35. 4201 Versailles Rd. RunSignUp.com.

Midway Music Festival

The Midway Music Festival will take place on the streets of downtown Midway on July 23 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. with live music from Boogie G & The Titanics, Ben Lacy & Cory Cross, AcoustiKats and more. Other activities include food and drink vendors, merchants and more. The event is free to attend. facebook.com/events/1479368749145243.

The Nest’s ‘Family Fun Day’ at Duncan Park

The Nest - Center for Women, Children and Families, is partnering with Central Bank to host a free-to-attend family fun day at Duncan Park on July 23 from 1-4 p.m. Activities include a petting zoo, face painting, music, balloon animals and more. 530 N Limestone St. facebook.com/events/1622027844850895.

Mary Chapin Carpenter concert at Equus Run Vineyards

Country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter, who had hit songs like “Down At the Twist And Shout” throughout the 1990s, will perform at Equus Run Vineyards in Midway on July 23 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $68. 1280 Moores Mill Rd, Midway. EquusRunVineyards.com.

Steve Earle concert at The Burl

Legendary songwriter Steve Earle & The Dukes will perform an outdoor show at The Burl with support from The Whitmore Sisters on July 23 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35. 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com.

Two veteran voices of songcraft have three Central Kentucky shows this weekend

Tahlsound Concert Series with Wayne Graham

The Tahlsound Concert Series will present a free show featuring Whitesburg based country quartet Wayne Graham and Columbus, Ohio based reggae group The Ark Band on the Oleika Temple Great Lawn on July 24 at 5 p.m. 302 Southland Dr. Tahlsound.com.

Unbridled Sessions Concert Series at Austin City Saloon

Austin City Saloon will present the “Unbridled Sessions Concert Series” hosted by Greg Adams and featuring performances from the Rachel Crowe Band and Appalachian Outlaws on July 24 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 plus online fees. 2350 Woodhill Dr. facebook.com/events/3493534774216176.

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