If you think you already know everything about Lexington, think again — keep reading to become a true Lexpert. | Photo by LEXtoday
Did you know burgoo was once made with squirrels + blackbirds? Thankfully, today’s version of the stew is made with beef, chicken, or pork.
As connoisseurs of the quirky and unconventional, we put together a list of Lexington’s history, oddest characteristics, and more. Test your local knowledge with these 16 interesting facts.
Fact: The J.M. Smucker Company building — aka the Jif peanut butter plant on Winchester Road — is the largest peanut butter-producing facility in the world. (WKYT)
Fact: Lexington holds a Guinness Book of World Records title for the largest gathering of people wearing hard hats — 2,136 people.
Introducing your winner, Keeneland Burgoo. | Photo by Becca Parington
Fact: Belle’s Cocktail House is named after notorious local madam Belle Brezing. Belle ran a high-class Victorian-era brothel out of the Mary Todd Lincoln Home + is considered the inspiration for Gone with the Wind character Belle Watling.
Fact: Lexington was the first city in the US to launch a reenactment of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video. It is performed downtown every year for Halloween.
Craft + Candle Cocktail Bar | Thursday, July 17-Tuesday, Dec. 2 | 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. | Wick + Mortar Studio | $15+ | Unleash your creative side to make your own candle, reed diffuser, fabric spritz, and more — cocktails, wine + beer available for purchase.
Arts + Apps walk | Thursday, July 17, Thursday, July 24, Thursday, July 31 | 4-6 p.m. | Downtown Lexington | $75 | This tour takes foodies + art lovers on a downtown stroll to spaces they’ll enjoy with a few stops for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.
Art on the Town at Thursday Night Live | Thursday, July 17, Thursday, July 24, Thursday, July 31 | 5-8 p.m. | Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park | Free | Chat with local artists + shop one-of-a-kind paintings, drawings, jewelry, sculptures, books, all while enjoying live music.
Self-Publishing 101 | 5:30-6 p.m. | Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning | $45 | Learn about the process of self-publishing a book, from manuscript to published work, and determine whether it’s the route for you at this guided workshop.
Comedy Open Mic | Thursday, July 17, Thursday, July 24, Thursday, July 31 | 8-10 p.m. | Ethereal Public House | Free | Strut your stuff at this comedy classroom, or laugh along with local comics as they hone their craft.
Multifarious Open Mic | 6 p.m. | Blue Stallion Brewing Company | Free | Mix and mingle music and lyric at this opportunity for singer-songwriters and poetry performers.
Tuesday, July 22
Art Walk - Guided Tour | Tuesday, July 22, Thursday, July 24, Saturday, July 26 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Downtown Lexington | $40 | Explore Lexington’s vibrant art scene at this guided tour of historic buildings, public art, galleries.
Sunday, July 27
Plants, Pints & Pizza | 1-3 p.m. | Rolling Oven Taproom Versailles, Versailles | Free | Show off, sell, or swap your plant-related goodies while sipping pints + eating pizza.
Lexington’s third Kroger Marketplace is slated to open in Spring 2026. The store — located at Newtown Springs — will feature an 18-pump fuel center, wine and spirits shop, cheese shop + apparel. (Herald-Leader)
Real Estate
Get ready for new neighbors. Fayette County ranked No. 56 among Construction Coverage’s list of 100 mid-sized metros building the most homes. The region is adding approx. 9.3 new housing units for every 1,000 existing homes. Bowling Green + Louisville also made the list.
Community
This local organization makes it easy to donate your excess furniture, appliances, and home goods. With free pickup, all you have to do is snap a photo, schedule a time, and your donation helps build homes and communities. Clearing clutter has never been this simple.*
Regional
We have an update on the passenger rail. In case you missed it, a route was proposed to connect Louisville to Chicago — but the plans have stalled. Local officials have submitted a proposal and are waiting for the Railroad Administration to respond. (Louisville Business First)
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Imagine stepping into a sleek, modern shower and not tripping over a peeling tub. HomeBuddy can match you with a local pro for a spa-worthy remodel — get a free estimate.*
Drink
The secret is out. Starbucks launched a “secret menu” option on its app, including items like “Dragonfruit glow up.” The coffee chain also launched a contest for customers to submit their own customized drink. But who needs a secret menu when we’ve got so many local shops to sip from?
Plan Ahead
📅 Make your event the talk of Lexington
Graphic by 6AM City
Don’t let your upcoming event get lost in oversaturated summer calendars. Amplify it to LEXtoday’s 43,925+ engaged subscribers through our self-service ad portal.
Two eye-catching options include:
Newsletter promo: Up to 75 words, three links, and an image promoting your event — custom-crafted by our team.
Email header: A media rich, visual ad at the top of our newsletter. Your event will be the first thing readers see.
Save hundreds when you shop Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale for top deals on apparel, home, beauty, and more. We’re adding these five to our cart before they sell out:
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
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