Home Ace Issues Lexington, Kentucky Summer Guide 2017: Fests, Music, Movies and More

Lexington, Kentucky Summer Guide 2017: Fests, Music, Movies and More

First page of the 2017 Summer Guide

Compiled by Rebecca Feigin

Who ever said you needed to leave town to have fun?

Lexington, Kentucky is stay-cation city this summer.

If you’re looking for who/ what/ where / when of some of Lexington’s most popular summer series — like Thursday Night Live, Hollywood Movie Classics at the Kentucky Theatre, Big Band/Jazz, Southland Jamboree, Free Friday Flicks and more — this is the Summer Guide for you.

 

SUMMER LIVE MUSIC SERIES

Live music in the Summer in Lexington includes everything from jazz and big band to bluegrass and everything in between, in every corner of the city. Whether you prefer to hit the heart of downtown or sitting on a blanket on some suburban grass enjoying live tunes, Lexington has you covered. There is live music nearly every day of the week during summer. Have kids? Bring them along. Do your dogs need some outdoor time? They can come too! Nearly all of the music is local and most of this live music programming is free.

Big Band and Jazz at Moondance Amphitheater

June 6 Dick Domek and the Walnut Street Ramblers

June 13 Tim Lake and the Blue Jazz Persuaders

June 20 Dave Shelton with Angie Ortega, Danny Cecil and Paul Deatherage

June 27 Raleigh Dailey with Danny Cecil and Paul Deatherage

 

Big Band and Jazz at Ecton Park

July 11 DOJO (DiMartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra)

July 18 Lexington Concert Band

July 25 Miles Osland Little Big Band

August 1 Bill McGinnis and Colonel’s Choice

August 8 Rick Cook Quintet

August 15 Dan Brock Quintet

August 22 Vince DiMartino with Dave Shelton, Hunt Butler, Robert Griffin and Ryan McGillicuddy

August 29 Byron Romanowitz and Jazzberry Jam

 

Lakeside Live at Lexington Green

June 2 Radio 80

June 3 The Quack

June 9 Rays Music Exchange

June 10 Alt90

June 16 Aly’An

June 17 Korey Hunt & Friends

June 23 Superfecta

June 24 Sean Meadows

June 29 Karaoke on the Big Stage

June 30 Ben Lacy & Friends

July 1 Boogie G

July 2 Lexington Singers

July 7 Wannabeatles

July 8 Big Maracas

July 14 The Ark Band

July 15 Paul Childers

July 21 The Twiggenburys

July 22 The Wooks

July 27 Karaoke on the Big Stage

July 28 Zack Attack

July 29 The Throwbacks

August 4 Triage

August 5 Brother Smith

August 11 The Distraxions

August 12 Encore

August 18 Vanguard

August 19 County Wide

August 25 Kudmani

August 26 Jordan English

August 31 Karaoke on the Big Stage

September 1 Ben Lacy & Friends

September 2 Space Cowboyz

September 8 Grayson Jenkins Band

September 9 Rays Music Exchange

September 15 Lauren Mink Band

September 16 Tee Dee Young

September 22 The Ark Band

September 23 Sean Meadows

September 28 Karaoke on the Big Stage

September 29 Them Hamilton Boys

September 30 Boogie G

 

Southland Jamboree at Moondance Amphitheatre

June 5 Cane Run Bluegrass

June 12 Blue Belles

June 19 Uptown Blue

June 26 Newtown

July 3 Blue Eagle Band

July 10 Billie Renee and Cumberland Gap

July 17 Custom Made Bluegrass

July 24 Dean Osborne

July 31 Michael Cleveland and Jeff Guernsey

August 7 TBD

August 14 The Local Honeys

August 21 Becky Buller & Ned Luberecki

August 28 Laurel River Line

September 4 Samantha Jean & Firegate 33

 

Summer Nights in Suburbia at Moondance Amphitheater

June 2 Coralee and the Townies

June 9 Debraun Thomas

June 16 Johnny Conqueroo

June 23 C the Beat

June 30 Johnson Brothers

July 7 Justin Paul Lewis

July 14 Boogie G & the Titanics

July 21 Bridge 19

July 28 Bruce Lewis Band

August 4 Baja Yetis

August 11 Rebel

August 18 Other Brothers

August 25 1971 – A Happening

 

Thursday Night Live at Cheapside Pavilion

June 1 Charlie Shuck

June 8 The Big Maracas

June 15 The Johnson Brothers

June 22 Tim Talbert Project

June 29 Better Off Dead

July 6 Prime Cut Band

July 13 The Twiggenburys

July 20 Boogie G and the Titantics

July 27 64West

August 3 Grayson Jenkins

August 10 Superfecta

August 17 Conch Republic

August 24 Kenny Owens and Group Therapy

August 31 Yellow Dye #5

September 7 Mercy Men

September 14 Five Below Band

September 21 Honeychild

September 28 Rebel Without A Cause

 

SUMMER FILM SERIES

If you love movies, but could use a break from the long lines at the summer blockbuster multiplexes, Lexington is filled with summer film series. From cult films to Hollywood classics, the options are endless.

Cult Film Series At Al’s Bar

June 6 After Hours

July 4 Porky’s

August 1 Lawnmower Man

September 5 Society

 

Farish Films At The Central Library (downtown)

June 1 Kung Fu Panda 3

June 6 The Secret Life of Pets

June 8 Inside Out

June 13 Kubo and the Two Strings

June 20 Charlotte’s Web

June 22 Ratatouille

June 27 Sing

June 29 Wall-E

July 6 Big Hero 6

July 11 Moana

July 13 The Peanuts Movie

July 18 The Good Dinosaur

July 20 The BFG

July 25 Pete’s Dragon

July 27 Monsters University

 

Free Friday Flicks at Jacobson Park

June 2 Beauty and the Beast (1991)

June 9 Moana

June 16 The LEGO Batman Movie

June 23 Trolls

June 30 Sing

 

Fountain Films on Friday at Triangle Park

July 14 Spaceballs

July 21 Nightmare Before Christmas

July 28 Happy Gilmore

August 4 Mean Girls

August 11 The Mask

August 18 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

 

Hollywood Movie Classics At The Kentucky Theatre

June 7 My Fair Lady

June 14 The Manchurian Candidate

June 21 Mary Poppins

June 28 Vertigo

July 5 Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast

July 12 O Brother, Where Art Thou?

July 19 Harold And Maude

July 26 To Kill A Mockingbird

August 2 The Glenn Miller Story

August 9 The Lion In Winter

August 16 The Night Of The Hunter

August 23 Monty Python And The Holy Grail

August 30 The Big Lebowski

September 13 Serenity With The Kentucky Browncoats

 

Black Lens Summer Film Series at the Lyric Theater

June 9 Ali

June 23 Carmen Jones

July 14 Southside With You

July 28 Fences

Run for it!

Our beautiful bluegrass offers some of the most scenic routes in the country for runners. This summer’s options include everything from fun strolls to more serious fare for more serious contenders.

Many of the runs benefit charity, and some even conclude with ice cream or beer. Just a little added bonus to your work out.

June 2 North Lime Donut Dash 5k, Lexington Christian Academy

June 3 Run For The Nun 5k, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church

June 3 Great American Fitness Challenge – Lexington, University of Kentucky

June 10 West Sixth Funky Fun Prom Run, West Sixth Brewery

June 16 Ironcology Survive The Night, Commonwealth Stadium

June 17 Crank & Boom Sprint For Scoops 3k, Wellington Park

June 17 Wild Hearts Fun Run Superhero 5k, Keeneland

June 18 Father’s Day 5k Run For Prostate Cancer, Coldstream Research Park

July 4 Bluegrass 10,000 and Fun Run, Downtown Lexington

July 8 Lexus of Lexington 5k, Keeneland

July 16 BreyerFest 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, Kentucky Horse Park

July 22 Run For Recovery 5k, Keeneland

August 5 Great Amazing Race Lexington, Shillito Park

August 12 A Midsummer Night’s Run, Downtown Lexington

September 9 CASA Superhero Run, Kentucky Horse Park

September 23 Horsin’ Around XC 5k, Safe Haven Equine Ministries

Oct 13-15 Bourbon Chase Relay on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Oct 15 Iron Horse Half Marathon in Midway

Oct 21 Race For The Cure at Courthouse Plaza

FAIRS, Fests, and Events

Prepare to feast on funnel cakes and food truck eats all summer long. There are fairs, fests, and events every weekend, and you’ll never be at a loss of what to do this summer.

June 1-4 Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville

June 1-4 St Elizabeth Ann Seton Fair

June 3 Bluegrass Greensource GreenFest

June 8-11 Festival of the Bluegrass at Kentucky Horse Park

June 10 Mutt Strutt at Keeneland, benefiting Lexington Humane

June 14-18 PlayThink Festival in Berea 

June 24 Lexington Pride Festival at Courthouse Plaza

July 3-4 Lexington’s Fourth of July Festival in Downtown Lexington

July 6-16 SummerFest at Woodland Park (this year’s offering is The Wiz)

July 13 Bluegrass Fair begins

July 14-16 Forecastle at Louisville Waterfront Park

July 15 Concours d’Elegance at Keeneland

Aug 3-6 Ballet Under the Stars at Woodland Park

Aug 17-27 Kentucky State Fair at Kentucky Exposition Center

August 18-19 Picnic With The Pops, Keeneland

Aug 19-20 Woodland Art Fair at Woodland Park

August 24 Chamber Music Festival at Downtown Arts Center

Sept 1-3 Red White & Boom at Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Sept 8-10 The Kentucky State BBQ Festival at Wilderness Trail Distillery

Sept 9 Doggie Paddle at Woodland Aquatic Center

Sept 15-16 Festival Latino de Lexington at Courthouse Plaza

Home and Garden Events

If you’ve watched a little too much HGTV and now have serious home and garden envy, Lexington has dozens of local opportunities for you to get your HG fix.

June 3-4 Open Gates to Bluegrass Living Garden Tour

June 4 Kenwick Bungalow Tour

June 9 Garden Grill Out and Bee Home Build at 311 Nelson Avenue, Lexington

June 10 2017 Spring Garden Tour and Plant Sale in Woodford County

July 21-23 Home Builders Association Grand Tour of Homes  

July 28-30 Home Builders Association Grand Tour of Homes

August 26-27 BIA Professional Remodelers Tour of Remodeled Homes  

YOGA

What’s better than yoga? Yoga outside! Take your pick or pick them all.  

June 3 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary (1 pm)

June 5 Yoga in the Park at Kentucky Horsepark

June 7 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary 

June 10 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary 

June 10 Paddle + Yoga at Shaker Village

June 14 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary 

June 17 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary 

June 18 Summer Solstice Yoga at Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, 11 am

June 21 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary 

June 24 Yoga at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary 

July 30 Soul Cleanse Festival at Farmington Historic Plantation in Louisville

YMCA will also be offering Sunrise Yoga Classes in Triangle Park on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

This article also appears on page 5 of the June 2017 issue of Ace.

For a complete calendar — including rain dates (if they happen) and updates — go to aceweekly.com.

 For more Lexington, Kentucky arts, food, culture, and entertainment news, click here to subscribe to the Ace digital e-dition, emailed to your inbox every Thursday morning.