🌎 What is the GoodGiving Challenge?

🤝 How to participate

• There are 195 participating local and regional nonprofits
• Charities + their goals can be found via the website
• Minimum donations are $10 and there is no max

• Macadam Family Foundation | Match amount: $25,000 | Donations up to $50 will be matched $1 for $1
• Mitchell Family Foundation + BGCF | Match amount: $30,000 | First 30 nonprofits to raise $3,000 across two donations will receive a bonus $1,000

• BCGF | Match amount: $30,000 | Nonprofits with 50+ donors of at least $25 will be entered into a drawing for endowment prizes
• Angel Levas Foundation | Match amount: $15,000 | Will donate 50¢ per $1 match for arts and community organizations
• Traditional Bank Human Services | Match amount: $15,000 | Will donate 50¢ per $1 match for human services organizations

• Marksbury Family Foundation | Match amount: $60,000 | Gifts up to $500 will be matched 50¢ per $1
• Outlaw State of Kind Hometown Fund | Match amount: $100,000 | Gifts up to $500 will be matched 50¢ per $1

• Open Mic Night | Wednesday, Nov. 29 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | The Void Sake Company, 949 National Ave. Ste. 190, Lexington | Free | Sip on specially-priced pours of sake + local beer then brave the stage to share your voice and talents.

• Lighting of the Trace | Thursday, Nov. 30 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Buffalo Trace Distillery, 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort | Free | Join one of Kentucky’s beautiful distillers as they light up the trace and welcome Santa for the season.
• “In The Steppes of Central Asia” | Thursday, Nov. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Singletary Concert Hall, 405 Rose St., Lexington | $7-$14 | See the UK Symphony Orchestra play through Beethoven and Alexander Borodin’s classic piece.

• Jingle & Mingle | Friday, Dec. 1 | 6-10 p.m. | Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 161 Lexington Green Cir. # B, Lexington | Free | Enter for a chance to win free books for a year while mingling with like-minded bibliophiles + sipping hot cocoa.

• Lexington Christmas Parade | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 11 a.m. | Downtown Lexington, Main Street, Lexington | Free | Officially kick off the holiday season with our annual Christmas parade featuring floats, bands, local organizations, and Santa himself.

• Jack Harlow | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Rupp Arena, 430 W. Vine St., Lexington | $39-$450 | What’s poppin’? Just the Kentucky rapper taking the stage in support of his one-of-a-kind “No Place Like Home: The Kentucky Tour.”

• Last week, Kroger filed an application to open a new marketplace center at 790 Newtown Springs Dr. — just down the street from the new Publix. The proposed plan would include a 122,000-sqft main building, 5,000—sqft wine and spirits store, and a 300-sqft fuel center. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

• Calling all short-term rental (STR) owners. Over the summer, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council passed regulations for STR owners, including the requirement to register + obtain an STR special fees license. The deadline to register is Jan. 11, 2024.

• Congrats are in order for Castle & Key, which was named the No. 1 Best Distillery to visit in America according to StudyFinds. The list cites the distiller’s 2014 architectural renovations, addition of tours, various events, and of course, its beloved spirits with putting it on the national map.

• Santa’s arrival to The Summit at Fritz Farm was postponed last week after rain made for poor sleigh-riding conditions. Now, Santa will arrive via helicopter tonight from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to ring in a holiday celebration including live music, a petting zoo, and a chance to meet Buddy the Elf.

• For the first time since 2019, the Origin Jazz Series will pay homage to classic holiday tunes. On Sunday, Dec. 3, pianist Isaiah Thompson takes the Kentucky Theatre stage to play from his album “A Guaraldi Holiday,” then join musicians for a rendition of the “Nutcracker Suite.” Tickets are pay-what-you-can.

• We call this husky business. Members of Lexington-Fayette Animal Care + Control were called after reports of a dog trapped in a sewer drain. Don’t worry though — Sebastian the Husky is now back home and safe. (LEX 18)

• Step into the magic of the holidays at Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate. Their annual A Kentucky Christmas at Ashland event, happening this year on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 12 to 7 p.m., offers visitors the chance to explore a holiday market, bring home wreaths and fresh-cut trees + more. See details.*

• We aren’t given many 21-month grace periods. Oil checks, doctor appointments, Tax Day... time speeds by between them. But The Ascent found a credit card offering 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months — among the longest we’ve seen to avoid interest charges. Learn more.*

• Which ugly Christmas sweater would you choose? We’re liking: the Santa hat-topped wine glass or the “Home Alone” print featuring Catherine O’Hara.*