Festivals, fairs, park grand opening: Don’t miss these August events in Central KY
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From large and popular festivals to the grand opening of Lexington’s newest park, there are plenty of things to do this month in Central Kentucky.
Here is a summary of August events you don’t want to miss in central Kentucky.
Dave Koz & Friends concert
Grammy nominated saxophonist Dave Koz will bring his Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns 2025: The Ultimate Summer Party tour to the Lexington Opera House on Aug. 8. Koz will be joined by Marcus Anderson, Jeff Bradshaw, Leo P, Evan Taylor and Marcel Anderson on stage.
Koz started his professional music career after graduating from college and signed his first record deal in 1987. He has produced several hits throughout his career, including five gold-certified albums.
In 2023, Koz received a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from former President Joe Biden. The awards are given to people who devote large amounts of time to helping others. Koz has served as a global ambassador for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, a group that helps seriously ill children, for 30 years.
Tickets for the show are on sale for as low as $76.75.
The Woodland Art Fair
The annual and popular Woodland Art Fair will take place on Aug. 16 and 17 at Woodland Park. The vendor fair will feature nearly 200 artists and is one of Central Kentucky’s largest free cultural events, according to the event’s website.
The fair is produced by the Lexington Art League and Lexington Parks and Recreation. Artists from around the country will showcase their work to the more than 70,000 or so people who attend the yearly event.
There will also be food and drink available and musical performances. The fair will begin at 10 a.m. each day and is free to attend.
Kentucky Reptile Expo
The bi-monthly Kentucky Reptile Expo will return to the Central Bank Center on Aug. 16. There will be more than 125 tables showcasing live pet reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
The expo is a family-friendly event for everyone from expert reptile handlers to curious newcomers. Knowledgeable vendors and breeders will be at the expo to discuss the reptiles, answer questions and provide insight into the proper care and maintenance of the animals.
General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the expo.
Gatton Park grand opening
Gatton Park on the Town Branch, a 10-acre park being built behind Central Bank Center’s Rupp Arena, will open to the public on Aug. 23. The grand opening will start at noon with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by live music, dance performances, face painting, a Kentucky artists showcase and more.
The park, which began construction in 2023, will feature an amphitheater, playground, walking trails, public art, splash pad and more. Construction will be finished by the grand opening.
The privately funded park has raised more than $55 million to date. The park is not eligible for the new park tax for city-run public parks, but it will be self-sustaining.
The event is free to attend.
Manchester Music Hall Fest of Ales
The Manchester Music Hall will host its annual beer festival Aug. 23. The festival will include local and regional breweries, food trucks and live music.
Each attendee will receive a commemorative cup to use for unlimited sampling. More than 40 breweries from Kentucky and nearby states are expected to be at the festival.
General admission tickets are available for $52.15.
The Chevy Chase Street Fair
One of Lexington’s biggest block parties, the Chevy Chase Street Fair, will take place on Aug. 23. Euclid Avenue between Ashland Avenue and High Street will be blocked off with dozens of local vendors.
There will also be live music, family-friendly activities, street food, craft beer and cocktails. The fair is hosted by Smiley Pete Publishing in partnership with Chevy Chase Merchants Association.
The event is free to attend.
Chaotic Good’s Renaissance Faire
Chaotic Good, a local coffee and games shop, will host a Renaisssance fair Aug. 23. The event will feature themed live performances, immersive experiences and activities for all ages.
Some of the scheduled performances include Irish dancing, a viking demonstration and live music from local artists. The grand finale of shows will be a performance by the Lexington Lycans, a group that practices full contact armored fighting.
There will also be interactive arts and crafts events during the fair, such as fairy tiara making, chainmail bracelet making and romany craft making.
Organizers are also hosting a costume contest. There are multiple categories for contestants and prizes include Mad Mushroom gift cards a Chaotic Good prize pack.
More than 25 vendors and artisans will be on site, along with a snake handler. Food and drink, including a local mead vendor, will be at the fair.
The event is free to attend but donations will be accepted.
Cold Brew Coffee Festival
The seventh annual Cold Brew Coffee Festival will take place Aug. 23 next to the Lexington Farmers’ Market. Attendees can buy a flight of cold brew samples or try select cold brew mocktails.
Patrons can also vote for the favorite vendor in multiple different categories. The categories for this year’s contest include best cold brew, best specialty drink and people’s choice.
The festival was originally created to promote the farmers market, but it has grown into one of Lexington’s top food festivals, according to the event’s website.
The event is free to attend.
Battle in the Saddle
The 12th annual Battle in the Saddle Team Penning event will take place on Aug. 29 at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Covered Arena. Teams will compete against each other to see who can pen a group of cattle in the fastest time.
Bel-Mar Farm won the competition in 2024, penning three cattle in 1:24.35.
There will also be adult and kids boot races, where competitors will first toss their shoes into a pile at one end of the arena. The competitors will then begin a race from the other end of the arena to find their own shoes from the pile, put them on and run back to the finish line. Winners will receive a special prize while all kids participants will get a ribbon.
General admission tickets are free.
Lexington Water Lantern Festival
The Water Lantern Festival is making a stop in Lexington on Aug. 30 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Attendees will be provided water lanterns that they can assemble and decorate before placing it onto the water underneath the night sky.
Attendees will also get an entry into the scavenger hunt giveaway and a gift pack. Early bird pricing at $30.99 per ticket is available until Aug. 15.
There will also be food trucks, live music and vendors at the family-friendly festival. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the lanterns will be launched between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.
The nonprofit organization hosts water lantern events across the country and supports local charities, including Water.org, a group that safe water to millions of people globally.
UK football vs. Toledo
Mark Stoops and the University of Kentucky football team will kick off its 2025 season on Aug. 30 against Toledo at Kroger Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m.
The Wildcats are coming off a disappointing 4-8 season in 2024, their first losing season since 2020. Many familiar faces from last year’s team are no longer on the roster, leaving incoming transfers and developing players to fill the voids.
Meanwhile, Toledo went 8-5 last season, including a 41-17 win over SEC opponent Mississippi State. The Rockets have posted a .500 record or better every year since 2010.
UK opened up its 2019 season against Toledo and won 38-24.
Tickets for the season opener are available for as low as $26.91.
