By Autumn Brock
Pride Month is here and the Downtown Lexington has plenty of ways for you to get the celebration going! Whether this is your first time celebrating in Downtown Lexington, or you celebrate every year, we are here to provide some info on the festivities downtown!
Kicking off the month, Greyline Station is hosting its “Live With Pride Block Party” on Friday, June 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be music, dancing, games, food, and local vendors for shopping. Plus, if you are feeling athletic, there will be a 40-meter dash competition, hosted by the Frontrunners! Their block parties are always!
If you have been wanting to explore some restaurants downtown, now is the perfect time! Starting Saturday, June 3 at 12 p.m., Lexington Pride Restaurant Week will be underway! All week, participating restaurants downtown will have a special Pride Item available for customers! For coffee lovers, there are plenty of options for you, such as Lussi Brown Coffee Bar, High on Art and Coffee, Third Street Stuff & Coffee, and Broomwagon Coffee & Bike Shop. If you are looking for something sweet, try out Martine’s Pastries or the Futile Bakery. In true Kentucky fashion, if you are looking for some good beer or bourbon, you will have to check out Bluegrass Distillers and Country Boy Brewing. To participate in Lexington Pride Restaurant Week, all you have to do is visit a participating location and order their specialty Pride Item. From there, 15% of all sales from the Pride Items go towards supporting the LGBTQIA+ community! This event ends Saturday, June 10 at 1 p.m., so you have plenty of time to try out a little bit of everything.
While you are out celebrating and trying some good food, you have to visit one of Lexington’s most beloved hangouts, The Bar Complex! Here you can dance, lounge, have some drinks, and even catch a drag show. This nightclub welcomes everyone from all backgrounds, making it the perfect spot to visit this June!
If you still haven’t been out to see a Lexington Counter Clocks game at their newly renovated stadium, this is the perfect opportunity! Frontrunners Lexington will be hosting a Pride Night at the baseball field on Friday, June 23 at 6:45 p.m. as the Counter Clocks take on the Charleston Dirty Birds. For more information and to confirm your attendance, visit their Facebook event here.
Another incredibly unique and fun experience taking place downtown this month is the Bites of the Bluegrass Pride Walking Food & History Tour! Bites’ incredible tours take you through our downtown, showcasing businesses, history, and the delicious cuisine on offer. They are the #1 ranked Lexington tour on TripAdvisor! Join them on this specialty tour on June 22 and 23 starting at 5 p.m. and stroll to businesses that bring visibility to Downtown Lexington. Eat, drink, and be merry as you celebrate the city’s long-standing LGBTQ+ history. You’ll hear stories of the pioneers and trailblazers who helped build our town and create a space that’s welcoming to all. Tickets are $85 and include cocktails, food, and a fun guided tour filled with well-researched history. Tickets are going quickly, so be sure to grab yours at bitesofthebluegrass.com now!
Towards the end of the month, the Lexington Pride Center is also hosting its annual Lexington Pride Festival! This festival draws over 50,000 people to the heart of Lexington to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. This year, the festival will be held inside the Central Bank Center on Saturday, June 24 from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., and will feature live entertainment, various vendors, speakers, food and drinks, and more! General admission to the festival is $10, however, those 65 and over just pay $5, and anyone under 18 gets in for free. For more information on parking downtown, visit lexpark.org. For additional information on the Lexington Pride Festival visit lexpridefest.org.
Pride Month is about accepting yourself and others and celebrating together. So whether you are just passing through, or you call Lexington home, we hope you find a space where you are accepted and can be yourself, while also having a lot of fun! We hope you will join Downtown Lexington this summer in celebrating Pride!