Equestrian
First time in Lexington?
Visiting Lexington, Kentucky
Horse country, bourbon, a walkable downtown and plenty on most weekends. Every place below links to its own page with the official website, and the events are checked against their organizers.
On this weekend
Horse country
The reason many people come. Race days, the horse park and retired champions.
- Keeneland · West Lexington
Lexington’s racecourse hosts the Fall Meet and other equestrian events. Race days and ticket requirements vary by program.
- Kentucky Horse Park · North Lexington
A working horse park north of Lexington with daily shows, museums and seasonal events such as Hallowhinny. Standard park admission covers most event days.
- Old Friends · Georgetown
A retirement farm for Thoroughbred racehorses at Dream Chase Farm. Guided walking tours introduce visitors to the retired horses and their stories.
- Claiborne Farm · Paris
A Thoroughbred breeding farm in Paris that offers scheduled tours of its grounds, including the grave of Secretariat.
Bourbon
Distilleries in town and a short drive out. Tours have their own age rules and often sell out, so book ahead.
- Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. · Downtown
The brewery behind Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and, across the street, Town Branch Distillery. A campus tour covers both, and the distillery also runs tasting and cocktail experiences.
- James E. Pepper Distillery · Distillery District
A restored bourbon distillery in the Distillery District with tours, a retail area and a bar.
- Woodford Reserve Distillery · Versailles
A bourbon distillery on a National Historic Landmark property on McCracken Pike. The retail store and cocktail bar are open without a reservation, and tours and tastings are by reservation.
- Buffalo Trace Distillery · Frankfort
A Frankfort distillery with three guided tours (the Trace Tour, the Hard Hat Tour and the Old Taylor Tour), walk-in tastings and a gift shop.
- Castle & Key · Frankfort
A distillery on McCracken Pike, founded in 1887 by E.H. Taylor Jr., where visitors can walk the gardens, book a distillery tour and shop in the Boiler Room.
Downtown
Walkable blocks with parks, a historic cinema and the opera house.
- Downtown Lexington · Downtown
Start with downtown’s public events and cultural stops. Individual venues have their own schedules, prices, and entry policies.
- Triangle Park · Downtown
A downtown park at Main, Broadway and Vine, with seasonal events and nearby street and garage parking.
- Gatton Park · Downtown
A downtown gathering place for movie nights, concerts, and community events. Browse the park calendar before choosing your visit.
- The Kentucky Theatre · Downtown
A downtown cinema with its current films and showtimes listed on the theatre’s website.
- Lexington Opera House · Downtown
A downtown theatre presenting concerts, musicals and family shows. Each performance has its own ticket and entry requirements.
History and the outdoors
Henry Clay’s estate, gardens and trails close to town.
- Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate · Chevy Chase
Henry Clay's historic estate hosts Ashland Illumination and offers mansion tours and grounds to explore.
- The Arboretum · University
A public garden for a self-guided outdoor break. Grounds admission is free; paid areas and special programs have separate terms.
- Raven Run Nature Sanctuary · South Lexington
A 734-acre city nature sanctuary along the Kentucky River with ten miles of trails through meadows, woods and streams, for hiking and wildlife viewing.
- Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill · Harrodsburg
A historic village with exhibits, walking paths and seasonal events, including Illuminated Evenings.
Plan the trip
- Where to eat and drink
- Parking at the big venues
- Breweries and distilleries that welcome kids and dogs
- Rainy day plans
- Build a complete outing
Guest guides
One checked page a hotel or a host can hand a guest for the evening or the weekend.