Culture in Central Kentucky

Culture

You won’t hear residents of the Bluegrass Region complaining of nothing to do. The area offers a lot more than the bourbon, basketball, and thoroughbred racing that it’s known for. The arts are thriving, the sports teams are exciting, and the parks are easily accessible. Lexington offers a variety of cultural amenities you would expect in a much larger city. Visitors and residents alike enjoy year-round entertainment ranging from the Lexington Philharmonic to the Lexington Legends baseball team and everything in between.

The arts scene thrives in Lexington. The region offers a full complement of performing arts groups, including the Lexington Children’s Theatre, the Lexington Philharmonic, Broadway Live, the Central Kentucky Youth Chorus, the Actors’ Guild of Lexington, The Lexington Ballet Company, and the Ballet Theatre of Lexington, just to name a few. The area boasts four facilities that house the arts—the Lexington Opera House, constructed in 1887 and restored in 1975; ArtsPlace, a center for arts administration, meetings, and performances; the Children’s Theatre; and the Otis A. Singletary Center for the Arts on the University of Kentucky Campus.

The Bluegrass Region is rich in the arts. Lexingtonians are treated to a wide variety of year-round entertainment. Opportunities abound for performers and artists alike. Created in 1986, the community is fortunate to have the Lexington Arts and Cultural Council, a cultural planning organization that focuses its energies on fundraising and advocacy for the arts. Its leadership helps support more than 50 arts organizations in Central Kentucky. For more information, please contact the Lexington Arts and Cultural Council at 859-255-2951.

Throughout Lexington, you can enjoy 10 museums. The region enjoys a wide variety of offerings in the visual arts. Among the must-sees for arts enthusiasts is the Headley-Whitley Museum, housing an eclectic collection of bibelots, jeweled boxes, Asian porcelain, and extravagant tapestries; the Lexington Children’s Museum, a special place that features hands-on exhibits, interactive stations, and learning centers sure to keep children enthralled for hours; and the International Museum of the Horse on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Division of Parks maintains more than 85 parks, including swimming pools, golf courses, tennis courts, and ball fields. Some of the larger public parks in Lexington are Shilito Park, near Nicholasville Road; Jacobson Park, off Richmond Road; Veteran’s Park, off Tates Creek Road; and Masterson Station Park, off Leestown Road.

The region’s newest shopping center is Hamburg Pavilion, located at the intersection of I-75 and Man O’War Boulevard. Anchor tenants include Meijer’s, Target, Garden Ridge, and Goody’s Family Clothing. Fayette Mall, the state’s second-largest shopping mall, is located on Nicholasville Road, and Joseph-Beth Booksellers, a nationally acclaimed, independent bookstore, is located in the Mall at Lexington Green. Because of its location, Lexington is the retail center for both Eastern and Central Kentucky. Whether you are looking for something old, something new, or something BLUE, Lexington is sure to have it!

Horse Havens

Steeped in tradition, Keeneland Race Course draws people from afar for the racing season each April and October. Sales take place throughout the year. A highlight of Keeneland is the early morning workouts. A local favorite is “Breakfast with the Works”, held Saturday mornings during the live racing meet. Keeneland is located on US 60, six miles west of Lexington, and adjacent to Bluegrass Airport. Lexington is also home to standard bred racing. The Red Mile has been racing horses since 1875, Located just minutes from downtown Lexington on Red Mile Road. Horses pull drivers seated in small two-wheeled carts. At the Kentucky Horse Park, visitors can watch a harness maker at work, enjoy the parade of breeds, or take a horse-drawn carriage tour. Special events are held throughout the year, including the Rolex Three-Day Event and the High Hope Steeplechase. On Sundays at the park, polo matches are held for free. The Horse Park is located just off I-75 on Iron Works Pike.

Surrounding Counties

Bourbon County/Paris

Bourbon County and Paris are home to several of Central Kentucky’s more notable horse farms, including Stone Farm and Claiborne Farm. Paris Pike, from Lexington to Paris on US 68, is a beautiful drive. Paris is northeast of Lexington. For more information, please call the Paris-Bourbon County Chamber of Commerce at 859-987-3205.

Clark County/Winchester

East of Lexington, Winchester, the county seat, is experiencing rapid growth. Winchester is best known for Ale-8-One, a ginger soft drink produced and bottled in Winchester. For more information, please call the Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce at 859-744-6420.

Jessamine County/Nicholasville & Wilmore

The county seat of Jessamine County, Nicholasville is just 12 miles south of Lexington. Nicholasville is considered a bedroom community of Lexington, with many of its residents commuting to work in Lexington. High Bridge, the nation’s highest railroad bridge over a navigable stream, is in Wilmore. For more information, please call the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce at 859-887-4351.

Madison County/Richmond & Berea

South of Lexington, Madison County has lots to offer. Fort Boonesboro State Park is where Daniel Boone first settled in 1775, and is a popular recreational spot. White Hall State Historic Site in Richmond is the home of Cassius Marcellus Clay. The Hummel Planetarium and Space Theater on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University has a state-of-the-art star show. Churchill Weavers and Berea College Crafts are in nearby Berea. For more information, please call the Richmond Chamber of Commerce at 859-623-1720.

Scott County/Georgetown

Scott County is north of Lexington. Georgetown, the county seat, is home to the Toyota plant, the summer training camp for the Cincinnati Bengals, and, a local favorite, the Pumpkin Festival at Double Stink Hog Farm. For more information, please call the Georgetown-Scott County Chamber of Commerce at 502-863-5424.

Woodford County/Versailles & Midway

West of Lexington, Woodford County is know in the commonwealth for its beautiful horse farms, including Three Chimneys Farm, Lane’s End, Airdrie Stud, and Pin Oak. For more information, please call the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce at 859-873-5122.