A year-long party: Lexington announces lineup for its 250th birthday celebration in 2025

In 1975, Lexington celebrated its 200th birthday with a four-day celebration that included luncheons, teas and a horse race down Vine Street.

In 2025, Lexington will turn 250.

And it’s going to be a 365-day party, Mayor Linda Gorton and members of the 250 Lex Commission announced Thursday.

“We’re counting down the days,” Gorton said. “Lexington is 249-and-three-quarters years old. We just can’t wait until we get to 250.”

There will be celebrations every month of the year. The kick off will be a first-ever New Year’s Eve Party outside Central Bank Center. New York City drops a ball.

Lexington will drop a giant, blue horse, it’s official mascot, city officials announced during a press conference Thursday to unveil plans the 250th celebration.

“This project is about growth -- economic growth, educational growth and personal growth,” said Kip Cornett, co-chair of the 250 Lex Commission. “You’ll see that Lexington is about civic pride and civic awareness.”

Gorton appointed the 250 Lex Commission in 2023 to help start planning and raising money for events in 2025.

Cornett said the celebration will last 365 days or “361 days longer than the 200th.”

Events held during each month of 2025 will focus on different aspects of Lexington.

January will focus on wellness; February, history; March, education; April, music and the written word; May, diversity; June Homecoming month; July, culinary; August, business; September, sports; October, equine; November, arts and December will be about the future of Lexington.

The themes will carry through the entire year, said Eunice Beatty, co-chair of the 250 Lex Commission.

For example, Lexington’s culinary history will not be contained to just one month.

“We will eat our way through next year,” Beatty joked.

June’s homecoming month is for people who once lived here to return home, said Mary Quinn Ramer, VisitLex President. Ramer encouraged those who attended Thursday’s news conference to start planning now for family to return.

“With signature events and festivities planned throughout the year, the influx of visitors will support our hospitality industry businesses and partners as guests enjoy our local restaurants, shops, hotels, attractions and venues,” Ramer said.

“VisitLex looks forward to welcoming all of our guests—first-time visitors and those who are coming back home — to our community throughout our anniversary year.”

Events will be announced in coming months on the 250 Lex Commission website at www.250Lex.com, which will go live in coming weeks.

Some of the 2025 events include:

• “Big Ass Bourbon Tasting.”
• The unveiling of public art celebrating the 250th anniversary at the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza.
• Special productions and concerts by Lexington Philharmonic and the Lexington’s Children’s Theatre.
• City-wide scavenger hunt.
• A jazz festival.
• A cabaret.
• KET ‘Lexington’ documentary premier.
• Basketball week.
• Sanctuary Road opera.
• Faulkner Morgan LGBTQ Exhibit.
• African Seeds Performing Arts.

The city has given $250,000 toward the celebration. Other corporate sponsors include VisitLex, CHI Saint Joseph, the University of Kentucky, Central Bank and Mount Brilliant Farm, Big Ass Fans, Baptist Health, Coca-Cola and Gray Construction.