Event Calendar

An exhibition of historical and contemporary handprinted “broadsides” — reflecting the artistry of the written word, as well as the printing process.

The five groups of photographers in this exhibition worked collectively to capture the unique people, landscapes, and pace of life that distinguish Lexington, Kentucky. Maurice Strider collaborated with his students at Dunbar High School between 1934 and 1966 to create a rich archive of Black Lexington. Ida Nelson and Robert J. Long established Lafayette Studios in downtown Lexington to produce images for a range of commercial purposes between 1923 and 1959. The Lexington Camera Club was founded in 1936 and met regularly, often in room 208 at the UK Fine Arts Building, to encourage amateur photographers to develop more subjective uses for the medium. Their meetings continued for over thirty years with more than fifty members, and the club made its mark on photographic history with images that blend memory and imagination. In 2004, Marcie Crim, Jonathan Rodgers, David Schankula, and Richie Wireman began the Lexicon Project, a documentation of diverse communities in the city. Kurt Gohde and Kremena Todorova posted photographs and narratives on Facebook between 2020 and 2021 to facilitate connection in a time of social distancing. This exhibition is presented in honor of Lexington’s 250th birthday celebration and features work from our Museum collection, University of Kentucky Special Collections, and the Kentucky Room at the Lexington Public Library.

From the first Beethoven Symphony performed in America to the jazz majesty of Les McCann, Lexington has always been a city in love with music. The people, the places and performances will reverberate throughout the town during April’s Month Of Music! Make sure you catch every note! Over 25 different venues await you in April to help celebrate our first-ever month of music – from Al’s Bar to Kroger Field – there’s truly something for every musical taste. Stay tuned for more details.

Discover early 19th-century Lexington in this four-panel traveling exhibit. Images and text illustrate city life, the economy, schools and churches, and arts and leisure during the years Mary Todd lived in Lexington (1818-1839). For ages 12-up. Free. Open during library hours. The exhibit was created by the Mary Todd Lincoln House in partnership with 250Lex, the city’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of Lexington.

Collected Memory: Items and Artifacts from 250 Years of Lexington History” is a local history exhibit commemorating 250Lex from March 21 to July 13 at the Central Library Gallery, 140 East Main Street. The exhibit includes items from the library’s own Kentucky Room collection as well as loans from the Lexington History Museum, Keeneland, the University of Kentucky, and local residents.

The Lexington Public Library is celebrating our written word! For the month of April, examples of the library’s extensive archival newspaper collection will be on display at Central, featuring issues of the oldest Kentucky newspaper dating back to 1787, The Kentucky Gazette, Cassius Clay’s abolitionist newspaper The True American, and other local almanacs, music scores, and publications from the 18th through 20th centuries. We will feature local political race and IBM materials from the Lexington History Museum.

Various short quotes from Lexington poets will be printed on the coffee cup wraps placed around paper cups. The wraps are free to customers throughout the month. A 250LEX “Collectible!” Numerous Lexington Coffeeshops — Cup of Commonwealth, Kenwick Table, High on Art and Coffee, 3rd Street Stuff, Manchester Coffee, Leestown Coffee, Coffee Times Coffee House, Nate’s Coffee will be participating.

A free public event celebration reflecting Lexington’s historic and rich literary legacy at the Kentucky Theatre, 214 E. Main Street. The evening will include numerou Lexington authors and performers such as current and former Kentucky Poets Laureate Silas House, Frank X Walker, George Ella Lyon and Jeff Worley; National Book Award Recipient, Nikky Finney; Hip Hop and spoken word artist, Tony Wavy; dance performance choreographed by Jenny Fitzpatrick; and musical and theatrical performances with guest artists. Join us for this special night to celebrate why Lexington is such a special place for writers of all genres. Stay tuned for more details.

A free public event. An intimate conversation with celebrated poet, Nikki Finney, in town for our literary celebrations. There will be a short reading of selected works and a Q&A with the audience.

Come experience all the show-stopping tunes you love from Broadway’s biggest hits, including Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Annie, Jersey Boys, The Sound of Music, Chicago, CATS, A Chorus Line and The Lion King performed by some of New York’s top vocalists. It’s the ultimate showtune extravaganza!

Join us for an author talk featuring two Kentucky authors – Wes Blake and Rick Childers! Both authors will discuss their careers, read sections from their books, and answer audience questions.

Join us at The Lex for another day of musical magic from The Lex Quartet, in partnership with 250Lex. The event is free, with a suggested donation to support the artists. For this concert, we’ll be in The Alex Theatre at The Lex and Artistic Director Lyndy Franklin Smith will be hosting to offer behind-the-music anecdotes and the history behind the showtunes.

The Kentucky Great Writer Series features writers with a Kentucky connection who have one or more works of high literary quality. This special 250LEX Edition will feature the current and former Kentucky Poets Laureate of Lexington and be emceed by former Kentucky Poet Laureate Richard Taylor of Frankfort.

A Shark Tank model sponsored by Toyota. Don’t miss the “250LEX Entrepreneurial Showdown”. Undergraduate College Entrepreneur Teams will compete for cash prizes as they pitch their ideas to five judges. This event is free and open to the public. Check back soon for more information.