VisitLex helps bring friends and family back home to Lexington

Local leaders are asking residents to bring their friends and family back home in June, and VisitLex is making it easier to do that.

As part of the yearlong celebration of Lexington’s founding in 1775, the 250Lex Commission has designated June as “Come Home” month, and to celebrate, the city is hoping everyone will invite others to come visit.

To make it a bit easier, VisitLex is offering free “Welcome Home” kits for those interested in spicing up their places as the gang comes to visit.

“When we looked at the different months that were themed, June is actually when Lexington was founded, and it was titled “Come Home Month,” said Leslie Miller, VisitLex’s vice president of marketing. “From a visitor perspective, we loved the idea of that and wanted to sponsor that month and built around this notion of how do we activate our local communities and encourage them to invite their friends and family to come back to Lexington, to come home?”

Part of that, she said, will be a kit that provides hosts with some Lexington swag to help entertain guests.

There are several different kits she said, and some may contain visitors’ guides, pocket guides, area driving maps, stickers, and garden flags. Some may have sunglasses or blue horse socks, she said.

“It’s some fun little things that will make it easy to, you know, welcome people, plan and welcome visitors to Lexington,” she said. “We wanted to make sure they’ve got some of the tools and resources they need to make sure people are having the best time when they’re here.”

And with VisitLex’s help, even getting them here will be fun. The visitors and convention bureau has created a social media campaign that Lexingtonians can use to get everyone here.

“People are increasingly relying on digital means as a way to keep in touch with friends and family,” she said. “The average American is engaged in 1 to 4 different group chats. I think we can all really relate to being in a group chat and trying to organize plans. People want to do something, but it just becomes this really cumbersome thing. So, our campaign was really ‘Come on, get out of the group chat, bring your friends and family to Lexington — the date is set, the activities are set, this should be really, really easy.’”

On VisitLex’s website, residents can find GIFS they can post in their group chats, as well as links to some of the 30 days of events and activities going on during homecoming month. From Railbird to SoulFeast Week to the BigAss Bourbon Tasting, Lexington Pride Festival or Swahili Day, there’s something for everyone, and even more reasons why June is the month to come to town, Miller said.

To get your free host package, go to the VisitLex.com website and fill out the form on the website, or swing by the Lexington Visitors Center at 215 W Main St, Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Available while supplies last.

This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 8:11 AM with the headline "VisitLex helps bring friends and family back home to Lexington."