Lexington events focus on the arts in November: youth ballet, art show and more
Editor’s Note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history — some funny, some sad, others heartbreaking or celebratory, and some just downright strange.
For two and a half centuries, Lexington has been a hub for the arts in Kentucky, something the community will celebrate in November.
As part of the celebration of Lexington’s founding 250 years ago, 250Lex will focus on the arts throughout the month. From youth ballet performances to an entrepreneurial arts competition, multiple events will highlight local arts and artists.
“This is really going to be a special month coming up where we’re highlighting all of the different genres of the arts all throughout the month of November,” said Nathan Zimmer, 250Lex commission co-chair for November. “Of course, we believe that arts are essential to quality of life and to the health and well-being of our community. I think the public is really going to respond well to everything we’ve got this month.”
On Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, the Bluegrass Youth Ballet will bring the original ballet, “Dia de los Muertos,” back to the Lexington Opera House. Celebrating the Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, the ballet digs into the memory of those who have died.
Instead of grieving though, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of those who have passed away with parties and activities the dead enjoyed in life.
The show begins with a bilingual slideshow that introduces the cultural significance of the holiday in Mexico and the traditions that surround it. The show itself focuses on a family in a small village in Mexico as they prepare for the holiday’s celebrations. When an unexpected loss touches their lives, they are reminded of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the time we have.
The youth ballet will have school shows at the Opera House on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. Live performances for ticket holders will take to the stage at 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Nov. 1.
Art show, art and health symposium
Also on Nov. 1, an all-woman arts show will begin its month-long run at the Lyric Theater. The MAVEN Women’s Art Experience will highlight the talent and diverse perspectives of women artists in Lexington.
Curated by Charles Rice, the founder of the KULA Gallery, the exhibition features a range of artistic expression — including paining, sculpture, photography and mixed media.
The exhibit kicks off with an opening night celebration where attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists and purchase some of the artwork. Set to a backdrop of live music, the exhibit promises to create a rich, multisensory cultural experience. The exhibit runs through Nov. 30.
The month will also celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week with a competition for University of Kentucky arts administration students. “Fish Tank: Emerging Entrepreneurs in the Arts,” produced by Thought Partner, will let students with bold ideas for a better future in the arts pitch to professionals.
The ideas will be judged on feasibility and sustainability, and the competition will also feature an audience choice winner. The event starts at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18 at Awesome Inc., and tickets are free.
The month will also feature a symposium on Nov. 22 that explores the importance of arts and health.
“Two years ago, we started a collaboration amongst many different health institutions in Lexington,” Zimmer said. “It is really how the arts can play a role in health care and in the health and well-being of our community.”
The event will bring together artists, healthcare professionals, researchers and community members to explore the connection between the arts and well-being. Through presentations, interactive workshops and discussions, the symposium will highlight how creative practices can support mental, emotional and physical health.
The symposium runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 22, at the LexArts Gallery at 161 N. Mill Street, and is free and open to the public.
Lexington dedicates new statue
The arts month comes on the heels of the city’s dedication of a public arts piece — “A Common Thread,” which commemorates the city’s 250th anniversary.
“’A Common Thread’ is a powerful illustration for this moment in Lexington’s history,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “It’s a reflection of who we are and what connects us. ‘A Common Thread’ welcomes individuals as a symbol of unity and connection, inviting viewers to contemplate what binds us together as members of a community.”
Located in the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza, the public sculpture was designed to weave together the voices of Kentucky’s poets laureate, the reflections of passersby and the spirit of the city, artist Benjamin Ball of Ball-Nogues Studio said.
The artwork features the words of five local writers: Silas House, Frank X Walker, George Ella Lyon, Jeff Worley, Eva Alcaraz-Monje. Heather Lyons, the former Arts and Cultural Affairs Director in the Mayor’s Office, said the work reflects the city’s past, present and future.
“’A Common Thread’ is a beautiful recognition of Lexington’s 250th anniversary, as well as a bright and hopeful look to our future,” Lyons said. “It is an artwork that invites interaction and reflection, and I am delighted to present this redefined community space and significant new artwork to Lexington’s growing public art collection.”
Have a question or story idea related to Lexington’s 250-year history? Let us know at 250LexKy@gmail.com.