Lexington's biggest festival of the year underway

The Fourth of July celebration is more than a one-day event in Kentucky’s second-largest city. It’s already in progress in Lexington.

The ice cream social in Tandy Park Monday evening in Lexington kicked off the festivities. For the 48 ^th year, racing will take center stage early on the Fourth with the Bluegrass 10,000 and fun run. Jessica Shaw with Parks and Rec Special Events said the field includes runners from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

“We have noticed that throughout the race we kind of keep a world following. Last year we had somebody that wanted to run virtually all the way from Australia because they’ve run it so many times,” said Shaw.

Also, music is a big theme for this week. The Big Band and Boom with the Lexington Summer concert band Tuesday at Moondance Amphitheater then down to Transylvania Wednesday for the Philharmonic’s patriotic concert and winding up back on Moondance Friday with Tee Dee Young. Not to mention all the street bands on the Fourth.

Activities on Thursday morning include a traditional reading.

“Right at ten when we open up the Art Market we are reading the Declaration of Independence. So we want folks to come down and hear that and take that time to really appreciate what the day is all about,” said Shaw.

The schedule on Thursday also includes the Bluegrass 10,000 with runners lining up before 7:30, the parade down Main Street at noon and Fireworks at Oliver Lewis Way at 10:00. Lexington Parks and Recreation is a financial supporter of Weku.

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