Here is a Lexington list and guide of the best weekend events and happenings around Central Kentucky on Friday, Saturday and Sunday if you are bored and need fun things to do including ScareFest, Halloween Thriller parade, local festivals, fairs, food classes, live music concerts, comedy shows, free events, classical music performances, Lexington Tree Week,foodie events, art shows, concert series, 5K benefit races, theatre plays, and musicals,family-friendly events and the 2024 Keeneland Fall Meet.
A cosplayer walked the “black carpet” at ScareFest. ScareFest/Photo submitted
ScareFest Weekend at the Central Bank Center
ScareFest Weekend will bring the sinister side of Comic Con to the Central Bank Center with a film festival, speakers, tattoo expo, mystical market, and more Oct. 18 from 4-9 p.m., Oct. 19 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and Oct. 20 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. From $30. 430 W Vine St. CentralBankCenter.com/events/detail/scarefest-weekend-1 .
Cosplayers channeled characters from “Hocus Pocus” at a previous ScareFest in Lexington. ScareFest/Photo submitted
“Art By Nature” Opening Reception at the Living Arts And Science Center
“Art By Nature” will host an opening reception of its 2024 gallery — inspired by one of the 20 featured Monarch Waystations in Fayette County — on Oct. 18 from 6-8 p.m. The event is part of Tree Week Lexington, a week-long celebration dedicated to enhancing and appreciating the city’s tree canopy. A full list of events can be found at TreeWeekLexington.com/events . Free. 362 N Martin Luther King Blvd. TreeWeekLexington.com/event/art-by-nature-opening-reception/ .
Siner/songwriter Janis Ian with some of the items from her new archive at Berea College in Kentucky, which opens this weekend. Brooklynn Kenney
Janis Ian Archives opening in Berea
Berea College will celebrate the opening of the Janis Ian Archives with special activities Oct. 17-20, including a tribute concert, “Breaking Silence,” on Oct. 19 7 p.m., Phelps Stocks Chapel, $20-$300. berea.edu/janisian
FreakyFlicks: “Corpse Bride” at Moondance Amphitheater
The City’s Freaky Flicks film series will continue with a showing of Tim Burton’s 2005 animated dark fantasy “Corpse Bride” at Moondance Amphitheater on Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Free. 1152 Monarch St. LexingtonKy.gov/events/24722/freaky-flicks-corpse-bride-2005 .
Saint John African Methodist Episcopal Church 185th Anniversary Pre-Celebration
Celebrate the journey of Saint John African Methodist Episcopal Church, established in 1839, during a pre-anniversary celebration featuring Dr. Kathy Bullock, Berea College Professor Emeritus, on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. 210 Clinton St, Frankfort. SJFAME.com .
Comedian Raanan Hershberg at Comedy Off Broadway
Comedian Raanan Hershberg will perform at Comedy Off Broadway on Oct. 18 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Oct. 19 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. $15-$18. 161 Lexington Green Cir #C4. ComedyOffBroadway.com/events/100625 .
“cullud wattah” at the Briggs Theatre
The UK Department of Theatre and Dance will host performances of Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s Afro-surrealist play “cullud wattah” at the Briggs Theatre on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 19 and 20 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. $14.40-$20.59. 465 Rose St. FineArts.uky.edu/theatre-dance/events/cullud-wattah-erika-dickerson-despenza .
UK Women’s Soccer vs. Auburn at the Bell
The UK Women’s soccer team will look to continue its hot streak when the Auburn Lady Tigers come to town for a match at the Bell Soccer Complex on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. $7-$10 with children under 5 free. 556 Wildcat Ct. UKathletics.com/sports/wsoc/ .
UK Opera’s “The Marriage of Figaro” at the Lexington Opera House
Country singer Ella Langley, currently riding high from her debut single “You Look Like You Love Me” peaking at no. 13 on the music charts earlier this summer, will perform at The Burl with support from Maggie Antone on Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. $20. 375 Thompson Rd. TheBurlKy.com .
Lexington Farmers Market
The Lexington Farmers Market will convene at Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park on Oct. 19 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and on Southland Drive on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. 251 W Main St. LexingtonFarmersMarket.com .
Paper Shred at the Old Landfill Pad
Safely get rid of unneeded sensitive documents during a paper shred event at the Old Landfill Pad on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. 1631 Old Frankfort Pike. LexingtonKy.gov/events/24857/paper-shred .
Country Boy Brewing will host a Fall Bazaar with over 60 boutique vendors at its Georgetown taproom on Oct. 19 from 1-6 p.m. Free. 101 Innovation Way, Georgetown. Facebook.com/events/1586482572303246/ .
Pumpkin Carve ‘n Chip ‘n at McConnell Springs Park
Show off your pumpkin Picasso skills and help add jack-o-lanterns to this year’s trail (taking place Oct. 24-27) at McConnell Springs Park during a carve ‘n chip ‘n event on Oct. 19 from 1-5 p.m. Free. 416 Rebmann Ln. LexingtonKy.gov/events/24781/carve-n-chip-n .
Trunk or Treat at the Whitaker Family YMCA
Dress up and get into the Halloween spirit when the YMCA of Central Kentucky’s Trunk or Treat event returns to the Whitaker Family YMCA on Oct. 19 from 2-4 p.m. with inflatables, costume contests, decorated trunks, and more. Free. 2681 Old Rosebud Rd. YMCAky.org/events/trunk-or-treat .
“Charlotte’s Web” at the Lexington Children’s Theatre
The Lexington Children’s Theatre will host productions of E.B. White’s timeless “Charlotte’s Web” on Oct. 19 at 2 and 7 p.m. (pay what you will) and Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. $15-$20. 418 W Short St. LCTonstage.org/event/charlottes-web/ .
Comedian Jeff Dunham with Walter, one of his puppets. Richard McLaren
Lexington SC vs. Charlotte Independence at Lexington SC Stadium
Lexington SC’s USL League One squad will go to battle with the Charlotte Independence at Lexington SC Stadium on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. From $20. 200 Shives Dr. LexSporting.com .
NYC-based pianist Dave Meder will perform with his trio during an Origins Jazz Series concert at the WUKY Studios on Oct. 19 at 7 and 9 p.m. $10-$25. 2640 Spurr Rd. OriginsJazz.org/shows/dave-meder-trio .
Join Keeneland as it honors current and past members of the military, first responders, and healthcare workers during its Heroes Day at the races all day on Oct. 20. 4201 Versailles Rd. Keeneland.com/racing/heroes-day .
Fall Soap Making & Wine Class at Harkness Edwards Vineyards
Learn to make pumpkin, leaf, and other fall-themed soaps during a workshop and wine pairing course at Harkness Edwards Vineyards on Oct. 20 at 2:30 p.m. $57. 5199 Combs Ferry Rd, Winchester. Facebook.com/events/884066629839144/ .
UK Softball vs. Tennessee at John Cropp Stadium
The UK Softball team will host the Tennessee Lady Vols for the fourth edition of Big Blue Boo during its penultimate fall tilt at John Cropp Stadium on Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. Free. 570 Wildcat Ct. UKathletics.com/sports/softball/ .
The “Thriller” parade and Halloween activities in downtown Lexington will be this weekend. Matt Goins
Halloween Festival & Thriller Parade
The City of Lexington’s Halloween Festival and variety show featuring performances from local art groups like Mecca, Dance Attack, Traci Stone Dance Studio will take place at the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza on Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. Following it hundreds of zombies will take to the streets for a Halloween parade and Thriller reenactment beginning at 6:30 p.m. Free. 120-150 N Limestone and 200 Main St. LexingtonKy.gov/events/24786/thriller-halloween-parade .
Reenactment of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video Sunday evening during the Thriller Parade. Photo by Matt Goins Matt Goins/2018 file photo A float in the Halloween parade was pulled by a pair of skeletal beasties. Matt Goins
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0