BBQ festival, beer cheese contest, concerts highlight best weekend events in Lexington
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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 live music concerts, comedy shows, free events, classical music performances, University of Kentucky games, 5K benefit races, festivals, theatre plays, family-friendly events, and foodie events like the Bluegrass BBQ Fest, Taste Of The Bluegrass and a Beer Cheese Contest at a local brewery.
Bluegrass BBQ Fest at Moondance Amphitheater
Smiley Pete’s Bluegrass BBQ Fest will take over Moondance Amphitheater on May 17 and 18 with BBQ, beer, bourbon and music from TeeDee Young, DeBraun Thomas, Bedford and others. $10. 1152 Monarch St. bluegrassbbqfest.com.
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Wild & Scenic Red RiverFest at Clay City Park
Get your float on when the Wild & Scenic RiverFest returns to Clay City Park from May 18-19. In addition to a pre-party at Sky Bridge Station on May 17, the main event will feature a four-mile float on the Clay City Loop with live music, a rock climbing wall, a cornhole tournament and more. $15-$35 with children under five free. 8 KY-715, Pine Ridge, and 473 Veterans Ln, Clay City. FriendsOfRedRiverKy.org.
Sleeping In The Woods Songwriter Festival in Monticello
The second annual Sleeping In The Woods Songwriter Festival will gather luminaries like Darrell Scott, Nicholas Jamerson, Cristina Vane, Cody Lee Meece and others at Hidden Ridge Camping at Lake Cumberland in Monticello from May 17-19. From $30. 122 Cedar Lane Farm, Monticello. SleepingInTheWoodsFestival.com.
UK Baseball vs. Vanderbilt at Kentucky Proud Park
The UK Baseball team will host its final home series of the regular season when it wraps up a three-game set at Kentucky Proud Park with the Vanderbilt Commodores on May 17 at 6:30 p.m. and May 18 at 1 p.m. $7-$25. 510 Wildcat Ct. UkAthletics.com.
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Taste Of The Bluegrass at the Kentucky Horse Park
Experience the best flavors that Kentucky has to offer when Taste of the Bluegrass returns to the Kentucky Horse Park on May 17 from 7-11 p.m. Other activities of the God’s Pantry Food Bank benefit include a silent auction, a bourbon pull and more. $85-$175. 4089 Iron Works Pike. godspantry.org/events/tasteofthebluegrass.
Comedian Ms. Pat at the Lexington Opera House
Comedian Ms. Pat will bring her “Ya Girl Done Made It” tour to the Lexington Opera House on May 17 at 7 p.m. $35-$65. 401 W Short St. CentralBankCenter.com.
Comedian Michael Palascak at Comedy Off Broadway
Comedian Michael Palascak will perform at Comedy Off Broadway on May 17 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and May 18 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. $13-$16. 161 Lexington Green Cir #C4. ComedyOffBroadway.com.
Theatre play: ‘The Curse Of The Cobra’s Kiss’ at the Spotlight Playhouse
The Spotlight Playhouse in Berea will host performances of “The Curse Of The Cobra’s Kiss” on May 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. and May 19 at 4 p.m. $7-$17. 214 Richmond Rd N, Berea. TheSpotlightPlayhouse.com.
Benefit run: Chrysalis House 5K Run/Walk in Nicholasville
The Chrysalis House 5K Run/Walk will take place at the R. J. Corman Railroad Group Headquarters in Nicholasville on May 18 at 9 a.m. $30. 101 R. J. Corman Drive, Nicholasville. RunSignUp.com.
Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival at Masterson Station Park
Witness some of the nation’s best fiber artists working in everything from knitting to spinning, weaving, dyeing, crocheting and more during the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival at Masterson Station Park on May 18 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $5. 3501 Leestown Rd. LexingtonKy.gov.
Benefit run: SuperHEARo 5K in Richmond
The 7th annual SuperHEARo 5K and 1.5 Mile Fun Run will take place at White Hall State Historic Site in Richmond on May 18 at 9 a.m. $25-$35. 500 White Hall Shrine Rd, Richmond. RunSignUp.com.
Book reading: Storytime with Jayne Moore Waldrop at the UK Art Museum
Author Jayne Moore Waldrop will conduct a read-a-loud of her new book, “She Remembered It All: The Art of Memory Painter Helen LaFrance” at the UK Art Museum on May 18 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. 405 Rose St. FineArts.Uky.edu.
IEC of the Bluegrass Open House
IEC of the Bluegrass, a leading organization in electrical apprenticeship education, will hold an open house event at its training facility on May 18 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 493 Blue Sky Pkwy. IECBluegrass.org.
Vintage Pop-Up Market: The Drunken Flea at The Burl
The Drunken Flea —a curated vintage pop-up market — will return to The Burl on May 18 from 12-8 p.m. Free. 375 Thompson Rd. WearhouseKy.com.
Lexington Tour d’Coops
The 2024 Lexington Tour d’Coops — a self-guided showcase of backyard poultry at sites around the city — will take place on May 18 from 1-4 p.m. $10 for adults or free for children 12 and under (no dogs allowed). 166 Crestwood Dr. CLUCKy.org.
Benefit run: Rainbow Run 5K at Coldstream Park
The 4th annual Rainbow Run 5K benefiting the Lexington Pride Festival will take place at Coldstream Park on May 18 at 6 p.m. $30-$35. 1850 Pisacano Dr. RunSignUp.com.
Lexington Philharmonic Concert at the Singletary Center
The Lexington Philharmonic will host its season finale concert featuring a performance of Composer-in-Residence Shawn E. Okpebholo’s “Two Black Churches” at the Singletary Center for the Arts on May 18 at 7:30 p.m. $11-$78. 405 Rose St. LexPhil.org.
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Lucero Concert at Manchester Music Hall
Veteran rock’n rollers Lucero will return to Manchester Music Hall for a concert on May 18 at 8 p.m. $32. 899 Manchester St. ManchesterMusicHall.com.
Beer Cheese Contest at Country Boy Brewing
Country Boy Brewing will hold a beer cheese contest at its Georgetown taproom on May 19 from 1-4 p.m. Free for tasters or $25 to enter your cheese. 101 Innovation Way, Georgetown. Eventbrite.com.
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Lexington Singers Concert at the Lexington Opera House
The Lexington Singers will present “American Soundscapes,” a joint performance with the Lexington Singers Children’s Choirs and a mulit-genre instrumental ensemble at the Lexington Opera House on May 19 at 4 p.m. $15-$25. 401 W Short St. CentralBankCenter.com.
Matt Wickstrom is a freelancer covering food, music and more. You can follow him on Instagram at @WickstromWrites .
