LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 29, 2016) – Celebrate our nation’s Independence Day in downtown Lexington with a four-day weekend full of fun events for the whole family. The Fifth Third Bank Presents Lexington’s Fourth of July Festival kicks off Friday, July 1 at noon with the Great American Pie Contest and culminates the evening of July 4 with fireworks outside Commonwealth Stadium.
All events are free and open to the public, except participation in the Bluegrass 10,000. Check out the full schedule of events happening over the four-day festival:
Friday, July 1
· Great American Pie Contest and Ice Cream Social
Fifth Third Bank Pavilion at Cheapside Park (251 W. Main St.)
noon – 1 p.m.
Hosted by Alltech, bakers will be competing to see who has the best pie in Lexington. Come enjoy a free slice, along with Chaney’s Dairy Barn ice cream and music from the Young at Heart Jazz Band.
· Friday Night Live! featuring the WannaBeatles
Fifth Third Pavilion at Cheapside Park
5 – 9 p.m.
Sponsored by Pepsi, this free concert features the popular Nashville-based Beatles tribute band, the WannaBeatles. Food and beverages from various local vendors will be available for purchase.
Saturday, July 2
· Lexington Farmers’ Market
Fifth Third Pavilion
7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
· SplashJAM Spray Ground Opening
Northeastern Park (138 Eastern Ave.)
1 p.m.
SplashJAM is a new water-play feature that will be at Northeastern Park through Aug. 10. This event will include food and music, and will be the first time patrons can enjoy the new splash ground.
Sunday, July 3
· Patriotic Music Concert
Transylvania University, Morrison Lawn (250 W. Third St.)
8 p.m.
The Lexington Philharmonic will entertain fans as they take the stage to celebrate Independence Day with this free concert. This event is sponsored by Waste Services of the Bluegrass and Hilliard Lyons.
In the event of rain, the event will be held at Transylvania University’s Mitchell Fine Arts Center. Space will be limited to the first 1,000 guests and food and beverages will not be allowed within the theatre. Follow @DowntownLexCorp and facebook.com/DowntownLexCorp/ for weather updates.
Monday, July 4
· Bluegrass 10,000 and Fun Run
Downtown Lexington
7:30 a.m.
2016 is the 40th anniversary of the Bluegrass 10,000 – a certified 10,000 meter race through the main business and historic districts of downtown Lexington. Registration is currently closed. Last chance registration is Sunday, July 3, 3 – 7 p.m at the Parks & Recreation Administration Offices, 469 Parkway Drive.
· Downtown Street Festival
Downtown Lexington
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The street festival will feature arts and crafts, nonprofit organizations, concessions vendors and more. Entertainment begins at 10 a.m. and will feature various country, rock, R&B and Bluegrass bands on five stages. For a list of stage locations and full schedule of bands, go to lexingtonky.gov/events.
· Reading of the Declaration of Independence
Main St. and Fifth Third Bank
11 a.m.
· Parade
Downtown Lexington (Midland to Broadway)
2 p.m.
· Fireworks
Commonwealth Stadium, Alumni Drive side
10 p.m.
Fourth of July fireworks will be held near Commonwealth Stadium this year. Commonwealth Stadium itself will not be open, but parking lots around the stadium will be available as a place to park and watch the fireworks. No viewing is allowed from the Arboretum.
Officials recommend that patrons plan to arrive an hour prior to the event.
Lextran will run shuttles from the downtown Transit Center on Vine Street to the stadium, with departures at 8:30 p.m. to the stadium and return shuttles after the fireworks are over. Fare is $1 each way.
For a map of parking and viewing sites, plus a list of street closures go to lexingtonky.gov/events.
Visit Downtown Lexington Corporations’ official website at downtownlex.com for a list of festival events and follow @DowntownLexCorp and facebook.com/DowntownLexCorp/ for updates throughout the weekend.
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