Pizza eating contest, BourbonCon, plus 12 other things to do in 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, kid-friendly events, art events, theatre plays, musicals, Kentucky bourbon convention and gathering, a pet painting class, comedy shows, craft events and dance lessons.

BourbonCon at Marriott Griffin Gate

The first ever BourbonCon takes place Jan. 20-21 at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Golf Resort & Spa. It’s a weekend of all things bourbon for amateurs and experts with over 30 bourbon and culinary partners. There will be tastings, a cooking demonstration and Q&A from Celebrity Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, expert panels, a mixologist competition, live entertainment and more. Tickets $75-$350 bourbonconlex.com

New Lexington bourbon convention gives you the chance to sample dozens of whiskeys

Planetarium show at the Living Arts and Science Center

Lexington’s only public planetarium, the Farish Planetarium at the Living Arts and Science Center, 362 N Martin Luther King Blvd., will present Cosmic Castaways Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. Recommended for ages 6th grade and up, it showcases what happens when galaxies collide and the potential futures of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies. $5. https://www.lasclex.org/farish-planetarium

LexArts Gallery Hop

The first LexArts HOP of the year kicks off Jan. 20 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Dozens of Lexington art galleries, museums, artists’ studios, and creative spaces are open for free for everyone to enjoy the art. Gallery Hop guides are available at LexArts, 161 N. Mill and at all participating sites. The hops happen on the third Friday of every other month at downtown locations. lexarts.org/discover/lexarts-hop

Paint your pet night at Cut & Paste Craft Studio

Trace and paint your favorite furry friend to create a 12x12 canvas masterpiece during Cut & Paste Craft Studio’s “Paint Your Pet Night” on Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30. 3330 Partner Pl #156. CutAndPasteCraftStudio.com.

Comedian Ms. Pat at Comedy Off Broadway

Comedian Patricia Williams, better known by her stage name Ms. Pat and her BET show, “The Ms. Pat Show,” will perform at Comedy Off Broadway on Jan. 20 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Jan. 21 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $30. 161 Lexington Green Cir #C4. ComedyOffBroadway.com.

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Singer-Songwriter Showcase Concert at The Nook in Danville

Some of Eastern Kentucky’s best up-and-coming songwriters — Cody Lee Meece, Sean Whiting, Sydney Adams, Aaron Boyd, W.D. Miller and Daniel Stroud — will perform at The Nook in Danville on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12-15. 500 Finn HIll Dr., Danville. Eventbrite.com.

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Theatre play: ‘Let Your Hair Down, Rapunzel’ at Berea’s Spotlight Playhouse

The Bluegrass Players Intergenerational Troupe will perform “Let Your Hair Down, Rapunzel” at The Spotlight Playhouse in Berea on Jan. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $6-16. 214 Richmond Rd. N, Berea. TheSpotlightPlayhouse.com.

Musicial: ‘On Your Feet!’ at the Lexington Opera House

Witness the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan during the musical “On Your Feet!” at the Lexington Opera House on Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 22 at 1 and 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 22 at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $60. 401 W Short St. LexingtonOperaHouse.com.

Chris Knight, Hot Brown Smackdown concerts at The Burl

The Burl will be bouncing this weekend with live music from Chris Knight and Reed Fields on Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. ($20) and Hot Brown Smackdown, Blind Feline and Jory Bowling on Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. ($15). 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com.

Cold press soap making workshop at Kre8Now Makerspace

Learn the full cold press soap making process from start to finish during a workshop at Kre8Now Makerspace on Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $40-50. 305 Codell Dr. Kre8Now.com.

Pizza eating contest at Mirror Twin Brewing Co.

Mirror Twin Brewing Co. and The League Lexington are hosting a pizza eating contest, open to the first 40 competitors that sign up. Pizza will be from Rolling Oven Pizza and it costs $5 to enter, prizes include Mirror Twin gift cards. You must be 21 or over to enter, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. at Mirror Twin Brewing Co., 725 National Ave. facebook.com/events/490575436394091

Cookie decorating, wine class at Harkness Edwards Vineyards in Winchester

Up your cooking and baking game during Sweet and Sassy Ashley’s cookie decorating and wine class on Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. ($40) and creamy tuscan chicken, orzo and wine class on Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. ($56) at Harkness Edwards Vineyards in Winchester. 5199 Combs Ferry Rd, Winchester. Sweet-And-Sassy-Ashleys-Llc.Square.Site.

Cocoa and Crafternoon at the Lexington Public Library, Village Branch

The Lexington Public Library’s Village Branch will host an afternoon of hot cocoa and wintery crafts on Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. The event is free to attend. 1801 Alexandria Dr #136. LexPubLib.org.

Swing Dance Class at Arthur Murray Dance Studio

Learn dances like the “Lindy Hop” and the “Balboa” during a swing dance class hosted by the Hepcats Swing Dance Club on Jan. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Tickets are $45-50. 1801 Alexandria Dr #132. Luv2SwingDance.com.

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