Arts & Culture

Meet Lexington, Kentucky

Arts & Culture

Why Lexington, Kentucky?


Lexington has always been a cultural hotspot—there’s a reason we earned our nickname as the “Athens of the West” at the turn of the 19th century. Today, we’re the home of a thriving and diverse arts and culture scene, with something for every taste, style, and medium. So come see us and experience the creativity that continues to make Lexington the colorful, musical and inspirational place we know and love.

What Makes Us Unique

Arts & Culture in Lexington

So Many Museums

From horses and aviation to history and anthropology to modern art and science for kids, Lexington and Central Kentucky have museums for just about everything.

Live Music

Live music lovers have plenty to enjoy —including concerts at Rupp Arena, the Lexington Philharmonic, festivals like Railbird, and, of course, bluegrass at tapings of Red Barn Radio.

Street Art

Our city is more colorful than most thanks in part to our annual mural festival, PRHBTN, which features artists from all over the world. Explore our street art with the Mural Art Challenge.

Film and Theater

With multiple performance venues in and around downtown, there’s plenty of places to see work by our area theatre companies, including the Actor’s Guild of Lexington and Lexington Children’s Theater.

Visual Arts

Lexington’s thriving visual art scene includes the 400-member Lexington Art League, headquartered in a 19th century villa, Loudoun House. See their work (and lots more) during our monthly Gallery Hop.

Cultural Arts Programs

From Picnic with the Pops and Ballet Under the Stars to the Woodland Art Fair and Big Band & Jazz concert series, there’s always something fun to experience in Lexington’s arts and culture scene.

Cultural Celebrations

We love throwing a party—especially when it celebrates Lexington’s diversity. Our packed festival calendar includes our Roots and Heritage Festival, Festival Latino, Pride, and many, many more.

Books and Books and Books

This is a city that loves to read. Among our many libraries are the 15 libraries at the University of Kentucky, giving UK the largest book endowment of all public institutions in the country.

Historic Homes and Buildings

Our notable structures include the Mary Todd Lincoln House, Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate, the Hunt-Morgan House, and the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning—a repurposed Carnegie library.

“#9 among the Friendliest Cities in the U.S.”

- Conde Nast Traveler 2020

“One of the Best Weekend Getaways in the U.S.”

- AFAR

“Top 10 Bucket List Destination”

- USA Today

Meet Your Personal Sales and Service Representative

Roseanne Mingo Director of Destination Sales

STEM, Agriculture/Environment, Government, Military, Arts/Culture, Clubs/Hobby, Social Welfare, Tourism Organizations

Featured Unique Venues

From unique to unexpected, choose a venue that makes your meeting truly one-of-a-kind.

Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena

425 W. High Street, Lexington, KY, 40507
(859) 233-4567

This newly renovated downtown complex features 100,000 square feet of contemporary exhibit space, 16...

Lexington Opera House

401 West Short Street, Lexington, KY, 40507
(859) 233-4567

Lovingly restored to its 1887 glory, the Lexington Opera House offers something for everyone:...

Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center

300 East Third Street, Lexington, KY, 40508
(859) 280-2201

Originally opened in 1948, the Lyric Theatre was a thriving cultural centerpiece for Lexington's...

Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center

141 East Main Street, Lexington, KY, 40507
(859) 425-2550

The Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center is an entertainment center located in the heart of downtown. The...

Featured Attractions

Lexington is a special place. Give your attendees a uniquely Lexington experience they’ll rave about for years to come.

Artists' Attic, INC

401 West Main Street, Lexington, KY, 40507
(859) 254-5501

Printers, sculptors, clay artists, jewelers and illustrators work in studios that are open to the...

Lexington Children's Theatre

418 West Short Street, Lexington, KY, 40507
(859) 254-4546

Founded in 1938, Lexington Children's Theatre is one of the oldest continuously operating theatres...

Mary Todd Lincoln House

578 West Main Street, Lexington, KY, 40507
(859) 233-9999

Located in the heart of downtown, the Georgian- style brick house is one of the oldest structures in...

Intellectual Capital By Market Segment

We have something to offer groups and meetings of all types from religious to medical, equine, and more.

READY TO BOOK YOUR LEXINGTON Meeting?