Things to Do in the Lexington, KY Area in the Fall
Lexington, Kentucky in the fall
Lexington, Kentucky is a beautiful place during the fall months. Temperatures are cooling down and people are looking to escape the refuge of being indoors to stay cool from the sweltering summer heat. Luckily, there are a variety of events and things to do across Lexington that will chase the cabin fever and memory of the summer heat away.
The Scarefest Convention
The Scarefest Convention is held annually each fall in Lexington, Kentucky. It is the largest horror film and paranormal convention in the United States. Come meet celebrities and paranormal researchers, attend seminars, participate in the gaming portal, go on ghost hunts, and so much more. The dates are different each year, so it is best to check the Scarefest website for more up-to-date information. The event is held at the Lexington Convention Center and there are a variety of ticket packages. Each year platinum and golden tickets sell quickly so it is best to order your tickets as early as possible before they are sold out. Daily and weekend passes can be purchased in advanced as well as sold at the door.
R. J. Corman 5K and Duathlon
R. J. Corman 5K and Duathlon to benefit Chrysalis House is held annually in Lexington, Kentucky. The exact dates may vary from year to year but it is generally between the last week of September to the first week of October timeframe. For more information about this year's event, call (859) 977-2508.
Roots and Heritage Festival
Since 1989, the Roots and Heritage Festival has made celebration of culture a neighborhood affair. It is a street fair that lasts all month long in September on Elm Street Lane. There are tons of vendors, performers, and even a parade. Visit the website for more information on this festival. It is definitely an event you don't want to miss.
Wicked World Scaregrounds
Two haunting attractions are located at the Wicked World Scaregrounds at 5817 Tates Creek Road. Nightmare Haunted House is indoors and Terror on Tates Creek is an outdoor event. Tickets for Nightmare Haunted House are $12.00 to $20.00. Terror on Tates Creek tickets are $12.00 to $20.00. Combo event passes range from $20.00 to $30.00. Ticket pricing depends on your needs and the number of people in your party or if you choose the speed pass option. Speed passes allow you to jump to the head of the line in front of regular admission. Keep in mind that there may be a line for speed passes though. Be sure to visit their website to find out more information.
National Horse Show
National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park is the oldest indoor horse show in the United States. It began in 1886 and lasts for one week. Professional and amateur horse jumpers will be competing for cash prizes. Spectators will see the wonders of how agile and graceful horses can be. There will also be vendors on hand to offer jewelry, apparel, horse equipment, and much more. For more up-to-date information on each year's event, visit the Kentucky Horse Park's website.
Kentucky Horse Park
Aside from the National Horse Show, the Kentucky Horse Park has a variety of events and things to do each fall. Some of these events include square dancing, Kentucky Proud Weekend, Halloween Campout, Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) convention, Bluegrass Cluster Dog Show, and more. Tickets to the Horse Park are $16.00 for adults and $8.00 for children. Parking is an additional $3.00. Residents who enjoy visiting the Kentucky Horse Park all year round can purchase an annual pass for $40.00 an adult, $25.00 a child, or $90.00 for a family of four. It is best to check the website calendar for events scheduled throughout the year.
Keenland
When not racing for the Kentucky Derby, Keenland has a variety of events during the fall. Some of these include the Annual Yearling Sale, Keenland Handicap Contest, live races, tours, and so much more. General admission is $5.00 and the gates open at 11:00am. The Keenland website has more information on things to do and events held each fall.
Bi-Water Farm Autumnfest
About 25 minutes north of Lexington, KY in Georgetown, KY is the Bi-Water Farm Autumnfest. There is a 5-acre corn maze, train rides, tractor rides, miniature golf, paintball, a spooky farmhouse, live music, and many more activities. Because this is a working farm, you will also find many fall fruits and vegetables for sale, including pumpkins. Children can interact with some of the farm animals and play in the play area. General admission to Autumnfest is $10.00 but there are also other ticket packages depending on what you wish to participate in. The cost of the AutumnFest Express Train is $3.50, miniature golf is $2.00 and paintball is $3.50. However you can purchase a combo pass that includes general admission, train ride, and miniature golf for $13.00. For $15.00 you can do all that the Bi-Water Farm Autumnfest has to offer. Be sure to check out their website for more information.
Boyd Orchards Fall Festivals
Every September and October Boyd Orchards puts on several fall festivals. Boyd Orchards is located just 20 minutes east of Lexington in Versailles, KY. The Boyd Orchards Fall Festival is like several fall festivals rolled into one. On certain dates they change the theme of the festival. Some of the themes include Apple Days Festival, Scarecrow Festival, Pumpkin Festival, Old Cider Days Festival, October Festival, and others.
At Boyd Orchards they have playgrounds, corn mazes, hayrides, an animal center, pony rides, face painting, bonfires, and more. They also have some of the best apple cider in the Bluegrass. You can also come out to pick and harvest your own fruits and vegetables. You can't get produce fresher than that! Admission to the festivals are $7.00 for adults and $10.00 for children. Be sure to check out the Boyd Orchards' website to learn more about dates, times, and activities they may have added.
Shaker Village in the Fall
If you are looking for a way to kick off the fall season, consider driving 45 minutes southeast of Lexington for the HarvestFest hosted by the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. Enjoy many activities, including pony rides, contests, exhibitions, and so much more. Admission price varies depending upon what you want to do. Go to the Shaker Village HarvestFest website for updates on admission prices and dates.
If you love running or hiking, consider checking out one of many Trail Runs they host each fall. There is a 10-mile Hobbit Hobble perfect for hikers. There is also a Half Marathon Trail Run as well. Kids will enjoy the Kids' 1-mile Fun Run. Entry fees and dates vary so it is best to check out the Shaker Village Trail Run website for more information.
Shaker Village has teamed up with Canoe Kentucky to offer a Fall Paddle for those who love an adventure. Although you can bring your own equipment, they also have equipment available for you to use. Every Saturday, from the end of September to the end of October, you can join this group to paddle down the Kentucky River and the Dix River. For more information on the Fall Paddle, visit the website.
If you are looking for something to do on Halloween, consider the Spirit Strolls. Admission is $5.00. The Spirit Stroll starts at 5pm and has family friendly activities until 7pm that includes trick-or-treating. From 7pm - 9pm is the Shaker Spirit Stroll designed for ages 12 and older. You will get to walk through history as they tell true stories from the Shaker Journals and walk by lantern light through the cemetery. As the website says, "Real history can be scarier than any imagined ghost story."
UK Arboretum
Ducks and Geese at the Lexington Cemetery
UK Arboretum
Fall is absolutely beautiful in Kentucky. What better way to experience this beauty than at the UK Arboretum? Aside from the beauty, they also have several fall events to attend. Some of these include the Bird House Display, Fruit and Nut Collection Tour, Native Kentucky Trees Tour, among many other events that celebrate the beauty of fall. Admission to the UK Arboretum is free.
Lexington Cemetery
Sounds a bit creepy, right? Not really. Aside from being a cemetery, it is also a tree sanctuary where you can learn more about various tree species. There are also ponds, with benches, where ducks and geese flock. This is perfect for spending a quiet day feeding the ducks or even a picnic with someone special as you admire the beauty the tree sanctuary has to offer. The Lexington Cemetery is located on 833 West Main Street and is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Lexington Public Library
There are several branches of the Fayette County Library all over Lexington. Each month, there are tons of events and things to do at the public library for all ages. Aside from story time for children, there are several events such as writer's groups, computer classes, classes on health topics, chess, English ESL, and the list goes on. Check the Lexington Public Library website calendar for the most up-to-date list of events.
There are many things to do in Lexington, Kentucky in the fall. You just need to know where to look. These ideas should give you a good place to start and you will find even more events as you go along. Feel free to visit the Lexington Visitor's Center website and calendar of events to see more events scheduled during the fall months.
© 2014 L. Sarhan
