Restaurant week, Fourth of July events planned for 250Lex celebrations
Lexington’s 250th birthday celebration will focus on food and fun during the month of July, organizers said.
As part of the city’s year-long celebration of the founding of Lexington, 250Lex, several events are planned to tout summer celebrations, and to tempt people’s taste buds. July’s focus is on food, according to event organizers, and there will be plenty of opportunities to sample some of the city’s best.
July kicks off with Fourth of July festivities. Starting on July 1 and running through July 5, the city will present events across town. On July 1, the celebration starts early with Big Band and BOOM!, a summer concert including big band and jazz music, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Moondance Amphitheater.
On July 2, the city will hold an ice cream social from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park. The event includes a free treat, live music, and children’s activities.
Dixie Land South kicks off the music at 5 p.m., and Boogie G and the Titanics take the stage from 6 to 8 p.m.
On July 3, the Lexington Philharmonic will hold a concert of patriotic tunes from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Transylvania University and Gratz Park. The music starts with a pre-show at 5 p.m. by Young at Heart, with the main show by the Philharmonic starting at 7:30 p.m.
Fourth of July celebrations
Then, the Fourth of July will be an all-day celebration.
“Lexington loves the Fourth of July, and we’re excited to be bringing back the favorites,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “Our Fourth of July celebration is rooted in tradition. This year’s festivities will bring our entire community together to celebrate America’s independence alongside Lexington’s 250th birthday.”
The day starts with the Bluegrass 10,000 and Fun Run. The 49th annual race begins with the wheelchair race at 7:25 a.m., followed by the 10k foot race at 7:30 a.m. The 1-mile Fun Run starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes through downtown, into Thoroughbred Park and ending alongside the 10K at the finish.
Later on that morning, the Fourth of July festival and market starts. At 10 a.m., live music and vendors will fill the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza and the Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park. Music will be performed on both stages through 3 p.m., along with food and beverage vendors and craft vendors.
Also at 10 a.m., at the Historic Courthouse, a live reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place. Read from the courthouse steps, the event is designed to commemorate the reading of the founding document of the United States, which turns 249 this year. Those in attendance will be invited to read a short portion of the document aloud.
At noon, the Fourth of July parade moves down Main Street, starting at Midland and ending at Mill Street. Festivities at the Courthouse Plaza and Centennial Park will continue throughout the parade and after it, organizers said.
The city will end the day with a fireworks display, starting around 10 p.m. Sponsored by R. J. Corman, the fireworks will be launched from the R. J. Corman rail yard near Main Street and Oliver Lewis Way.
To keep the party going into the weekend, Tee Dee Young takes it to Moondance Amphitheater on Saturday, July 5. The music starts at 5:30 p.m. with Treyvon King, and Tee Dee Young taking the stage at 7 p.m. Food trucks and cold drinks will be available at the site, officials said.
Horse show, restaurant week
Other events will continue through July to celebrate Lexington.
Between July 7 and 12, the Junior League Horse Show showcases the best of Saddlebred horses at the Kentucky Horse Park. Started in 1937 to help fund community works projects by the Junior League, the show is the world’s largest outdoor American Saddlebred show, attracting some 1,000 competitors from the U.S. and Canada. The show has raised more than $4 million for charitable and civic organizations in Central Kentucky.
Lexington Restaurant Week runs July 17 through 27, allowing residents to sample some of the best food in the city. Foodies can grab three-course meals for $25, $35 or $45. More than 35 restaurants are signed up to provide the dinners and while walk-ins for most of them are welcome, organizers recommend making reservations.
New this year in July is the R.J. Corman Tour de Lex. On July 26, bike riders can take a ride along the Legacy Trail. Starting at the Kentucky Horse Park, the ride will take bicyclists through the Bluegrass along one of the region’s most loved greenways, ending at the North Lexington YMCA.
“On Saturday, July 26th, we invite families and cyclists of all ages to join us for a leisurely ride along the breathtaking Legacy Trail,” Kip Cornett, one of the 250Lex Commissioners said. “This is not a race, but an opportunity to connect with your neighbors, enjoy our beautiful landscape, and create lasting memories as a community.”
For more information on these and other 250Lex events, go to 250Lex.com.
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM.