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Big days in Lexington: closures, parking and shuttles

Check the date before choosing a parking lot or shuttle. These fall and holiday plans use the organizers' published information, with missing closure details called out below.

By Around Lex · Facts checked · About 6 min read

Kroger Field at night during the Kentucky vs. Arkansas football game in October 2019, seen from the lower stands: fans in blue in the foreground, the lit field and sidelines, the full east stands and the Kroger Field video board.
Kroger Field, . Historical photo.Photo: PCN02WPS · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits & changes

Edition ending . Check the date of each idea below.

October 21 to 24: Keeneland Fall Meet

Parking in The Hill and The Meadow is free through the Fall Meet's last race day, October 24, with courtesy shuttles to the Shuttle Depot. Racing runs Wednesday through Saturday this final week at 4201 Versailles Road, with gates opening at 11 am and first post at 1 pm. The Hill, The Meadow, accessible parking and rideshare all enter through Gate 1 at Man O' War Boulevard and Versailles Road, while Gate 2 serves valet and the Gold and Green lots. For this meet the Shuttle Depot has moved to an area beneath Barns 1 to 3, so allow extra time for the walk to the gates. Semipaved rows are for permit holders, except free accessible parking in Rows 17 to 21, and rideshare drivers use the area next to the Shuttle Depot, with no vehicle access to the North, South or East Entrances. Morning visitors arriving before 10 am for the Keeneland Shop, tours, workouts or Sunrise Trackside park in the lower Green Lot through Gate 1 and must move their vehicles by 10:30 am or be towed.

This event has no remaining upcoming date in our checked list. Read its date or status notice before making a plan.

View Keeneland Fall Meet

October 24: UK football, then November home games

Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt at Kroger Field on October 24 at 7:30 pm, Florida on November 14 and Louisville on November 28; exact kickoff times for the November games are still listed as TBA. UK lists Parking Structure 6 at Virginia and Press avenues for fans without a stadium parking permit, and Hospital Drive between Limestone and University Drive is restricted to emergency-room traffic on game day. Lextran's downtown and campus football shuttles cost $1 each way in exact change, with no passes, transfers, UK IDs or discounted fares accepted. Service begins three hours before kickoff, drops to one bus per loop from 30 minutes after kickoff until the fourth quarter, and ends one hour after the game; the stadium stop is in front of University Flats on University Drive. UK lists downtown pickups at the Lextran Transit Center, 150 East Vine Street, and on High Street in front of the arena.

October 25: Halloween parade and Thriller

The Halloween parade runs 6:30 to 7 pm on October 25, followed by Thriller from 7 to 8:30 pm on Main Street between Quality and Mill streets. On Sunday, October 25, 2026, the city’s Bridge Closure Party runs 1 to 6 pm on MLK Boulevard between High and Main streets. The city says the bridge closes to vehicles before the Thriller Parade. This specific access notice was checked October 23; it is not a complete parade closure schedule. Check the live traffic ticker for the 2026 restrictions before choosing your approach. LEXPARK lists the Courthouse Garage at 105 Barr Street as a downtown parking option; confirm the entrance is reachable before driving into the parade area.

This event has no remaining upcoming date in our checked list. Read its date or status notice before making a plan.

View Halloween & Thriller Parade

October 30 and 31: Breeders' Cup

Breeders' Cup parking at Keeneland requires advance purchase, and no passes are sold on site: Blue Grass Airport park-and-ride costs $40 Friday per vehicle, including the shuttle; Saturday and two-day passes were listed as sold out when rechecked October 27, 2026. Airport shuttles first leave at 9:15 am Friday and 8:45 am Saturday, take about 5 to 7 minutes, and return for up to 90 minutes after the last race; walking from the airport lot to Keeneland is prohibited. Grass parking on site at The Hill costs $55 Friday per vehicle, with Saturday and two-day passes sold out at the same check and a free shuttle to the admission gates, and Breeders' Cup lists ADA parking as sold out for both days. Buy downtown shuttle passes ahead for $20 Friday, $40 Saturday or $60 for both days per person: departures from West Short near North Upper begin at 9 am Friday and 8:30 am Saturday, the ride takes about 20 minutes, a race ticket is required, and downtown parking is separate, with LEXPARK pointing drivers to its lot at 168 North Upper. Rideshare uses the dedicated lot through Gate 1 at Versailles Road and Man O' War Boulevard, and the city's ticker is the place to check road restrictions before departure.

View Breeders’ Cup World Championships

UK men's basketball: Rupp Arena home dates

Upcoming Rupp Arena dates include the October 23 exhibition at 7 pm, the October 28 exhibition at 6 pm, the November 3 home opener at 7 pm and Louisville on December 12 at 4 pm. UK's game-day guide lists paid, first-come parking in Central Bank Center's West High Street lots, with parking lots opening at noon whatever the tip time. Central Bank Center does not take cash for paid parking, only cards and mobile payments, and it does not publish a basketball parking price. Rideshare pickup and drop-off use the Main Street curb cut in front of the convention center. The checked game-day page does not give a street-closure timetable, so check the city ticker and use the full UK schedule for other home dates.

Explore Central Bank Center

November 22: the Gobbler races

The Gobbler Half Marathon, 10K and 5K start at 8:30 am on November 22 at Mereworth Farm, 719 Dolan Lane. The organizer's checked 2026 page does not specify a parking lot or road-closure hours. Use the race contact button to confirm where to park and which approach to use before driving out, and check the city's traffic ticker for restrictions.

November 26: Thoroughbred Classic 5K

The Thanksgiving Day Thoroughbred Classic starts at 9 am on November 26 at Keeneland, 4201 Versailles Road. The organizer directs drivers to Keeneland parking near Gate 2 and says the paved course stays within the racecourse grounds. Arrive at least an hour before the start if you need race-day packet pickup, as the organizer specifically warns about traffic and parking delays. The checked FAQ does not list public-road closure hours; check the race site and city ticker before leaving.

Explore Keeneland

December 6: downtown holiday parade

The 2026 Lexington Holiday Parade starts December 6 at 5 pm and travels west on Main Street from Midland Avenue to Mill Street. The organizer reserves Midland between Main and Winchester Road for parade staging and excludes ordinary drop-off vehicles; its application says lineup may begin at 9 am, subject to when police can close the street. LEXPARK's garage at 350 West Short Street is a downtown parking option to check against the final restrictions. A full closure timetable is not included in the checked organizer pages, so recheck the city ticker before choosing your route.

Explore Downtown Lexington

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