‘Hit the ground running.’ Lexington’s 250th celebration to begin with month of wellness
Lexington will kick off its 250th birthday celebration first with a downtown New Year’s Eve party followed by a month celebrating wellness.
Lexington will host a community-wide, free New Year’s Eve celebration at Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena on Dec. 31, city officials. The program is sponsored by Maker’s Mark.
Then in January, a series of events will focus on fitness and wellness. February will focus on history and March will celebrate education, Mayor Linda Gorton said at a news conference Monday to announce events for January, February and March for the year-long celebration of Lexington’s founding.
“2025 is right around the corner and we are ready to hit the ground running...literally,” Gorton said.
The YMCA of Central Kentucky will host free fitness events on Jan. 4-5.
Those events —open to the whole family — will be at the Whitaker YMCA and the High Street YMCA on Jan. 4.
Beaumont and the North Lexington YMCAs will host events on Jan. 5, said Stephanie Arnold, executive director of philanthropy for the YMCA of Central Kentucky.
The events are free, but registration is required.
Other sponsors for events in January include University of Kentucky Healthcare, Baptist Health, the Lexington Clinic and CHI St. Joseph Health
During history month in February, some of the events will include a Sunday night supper series and other activities coordinated by the Lexington History Museum, Gorton said.
During March, 250Lex will work with local public and private schools to produce inclusive and interesting programming. The month with feature a weekend-long scavenger hunt that will challenge Lexington residents to learn more about their town.
The New Year’s Eve party will begin around 5 p.m. Dec. 31 with multiple indoor activities for kids, including inflatables, basketball on the floor at Rupp Arena and programming from the Lexington Children’s Museum, city officials have said.
At 9 p.m., the party will move outside to the Vine Street side of Central Bank Center for free live music including artists Tee Dee Young and Honeychild. There will also be food trucks and multiple vendors.
The Lex 250th commission, made up of multiple community members, has spent more than a year planning the city’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Each month, a different facet of Lexington and Fayette County’s history will be celebrated.
January will focus on wellness; February, history; March, education; April, music and the written word; May, diversity; June Homecoming month; July, culinary; August, business; September, sports; October, equine; November, arts and December will be about the future of Lexington.
For information and how to register for programs: www.250lex.com.
