859.255.2951 | info@lexarts.org

What is Cultural Pass?

LexArts Cultural Pass is a program that provides free access to many of Lexington’s arts and culture institutions for youth grades K-12. It encourages students to continue their education in the arts to avoid summer learning loss.

The LexArts Cultural Pass is valid for admission at participating venues for Summer 2025. Cultural Pass is a partnership of LexArts, Fayette County Public Schools, and local arts organizations.

How to Participate

 

  1. Valid Summer 2025 for all K-12 students in Fayette County
  2. You can pick up your Cultural Pass Card at your local school, library, or at LexArts!
  3. The Cultural Pass includes free admission for one student and one accompanying adult at participating venues
  4. Cultural Pass cards act as a FREE bus pass through Lextran.
  5. Lexington Public Library Student Success Card holders can ride Lextran for free this summer.
  6. Some Cultural Pass events may require advance registration
  7. For specific questions about an activity, please feel free to contact the venue
  8. For other questions, please email us at CulturalPass@LexArts.org, call at 859-255-2951, or visit us at LexArts (161 N. Mill St.)

Transportation Information

 

Your Cultural Pass Card can act as a FREE bus pass through LexTran for students only.

  • Students with a Lexington Public Library “Student Success Card” can ride Lextran for free this summer.
  • Individuals with disabilities and accessibility issues, please feel free to reach out to LexTran with any questions about using the Cultural Pass as a fare payment on any of our services. For more details on the application process, visit Wheels Paratransit – Lextran

 

This initiative underscores our commitment to inclusivity and making arts and culture accessible to everyone in our community.

Cultural Pass Activities 2025

ALL SUMMER LONG EVENTS

Art Farm

Art Farm Day Pass

Date: All Summer (Wed-Sat)

Time: 10 AM – 6 PM

Location: 1123 Winchester Rd

Receive an all-access day pass to artfarm, a commons for art and organizing!

Art Farm combines the creative autonomy of an artist-run space with the democratic spirit of a free school, we fill a critical gap in Lexington’s aesthetic ecology — an independent organization of, by, and for working-class artists and our neighbors.

Lexington Children’s Museum

General Admission

Date: June 1 – June 30

Time: Tuesdays – Saturdays 10 AM – 5 PM, Sundays 1 PM – 5 PM

Location: 440 W. Short St

Visit the Lexington Children’s Museum for an immersive play and learning experience that lights a creative spark for discovery and lifelong learning!

Lexington History Museum

Free Museum Visit

Date: Saturdays

Time: 10 AM – 4 PM

Location: 210 N Broadway

Experience a free museum visit and participate in hands on activities, as well as a self-guided tour of the Lexington History Museum.

Mary Todd Lincoln House

General Admission

Date: All Summer, Mondays – Saturdays

Time: 10 AM – 4 PM

Location: 578 W Main St

Visit her childhood home to learn about one of America’s most fascinating first ladies!

Carnegie Center

Free Books for Readers of All Ages

Date: All Summer

Time: M-TH 10 AM – 7:30 PM & F 11:30 AM – 7:30 PM

Location: 251 W Second St

Pick out a free book from the Arnow Reading Room at the Carnegie Center! Visit the Carnegie Center and choose a free book, displayed by age group. Afterwards, tour the latest exhibit in the SkyDome Gallery, located upstairs. The Carnegie Center is open to the public Monday-Thursday 10am-7:30pm and Friday 11:30am-7:30pm.

Lexington Art League

Project Pick Up

Date: All Summer

Time: Wed-Sat Noon – 5 PM

Location: 209 Castlewood Dr

Project bags will be at the front desk for students to pick up.

The Lexington Art League creates opportunities for Lexington area artists and those who appreciate their work. We do this by presenting an engaging and diverse exhibition program, sponsoring public events, providing arts education, and creating productive partnerships with other individuals and organizations.

Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate

Grounds & Gardens

Date: All Summer

Time: Daily, 8 AM – 5 PM

Location: 120 Sycamore Road

Ashland’s 17 acres are open daily, offering space to wander, reflect, and recharge. The grounds invite visitors to slow down — to stroll shaded paths, admire historic trees, and consider the civic ideals that shaped this place. Whether walking the Ashland Trail or finding a quiet bench beneath the canopy, guests experience history not behind glass, but all around them.

UK Art Museum

Guided Group Tours

Date: Tuesdays – Fridays

Time: 10 AM – 5 PM

Location: Singletary Center for the Arts, 405 Rose Street

The University of Kentucky Art Museum, part of the UK College of Fine Arts, promotes the understanding and appreciation of art from diverse cultures and historical periods, providing meaningful encounters for audiences of all ages. Through our temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and permanent collection of approximately 5000 objects, we are a resource for the campus community and a cultural destination for citizens of the Commonwealth and beyond.  Our Free Admission policy removes any financial obstacle that might stand in the way of opportunities for contemplation and connection.

SINGLE EVENTS

Central Music Academy

Family Drum Circle

Date: July 8

Time: 5 PM

Location: 3295 Eagle View Lane

Join us for a fun, interactive Family Drum Circle at the Central Music Academy! Open to children of all ages (and their grown-ups!), this free community event is a chance to make music together in a welcoming, high-energy environment. No experience is needed—just bring your hands, heart, and sense of rhythm! Drums and percussion instruments will be provided. Come explore the joy of drumming, connect with others, and experience the power of making music as a family! 🎶 Free & open to all! We can’t wait to drum with you!

Allegro Dance Project

Beauty

Date: July 18, 19, 20

Time: 8 PM

Location: Moondance Amphitheatre

A unique mix of contemporary dance, live original music and aerial circus arts exploring all aspects, ideals and concepts of beauty.

Tahlsound

Tahlsound Concert Series

Date: Last Sunday of April, May, July, and August

Time: 5 PM – 9 PM

Location: 302 Southland Dr

Tahlsound is a family-friendly, donation-based/pay-what-you-can concert series that takes place at 302 Southland Drive, in the Oleika Temple Great Lawn, on the last Sunday in the months of April, May, July and August. September will feature the return of the Southland Street Fair. Patrons are invited to bring a blanket or chair and enjoy an afternoon of local and regional musicians and artists, as well as food and beverage vendors, and hands-on activities, crafts and games in the “Tahlsound Kid’s Corner.” More information, registration and reservations for “Friends of Tahlsound Tables” are available at www.tahlsound.com.

Lexington Pride Center

The Lexington Pride Festival

Date: June 28

Time: 11 AM – 9 PM

Location: South Broadway to High Street

The Lexington Pride Festival is a community celebration to empower and bring awareness to the intersectional lives of LGBTQIA+ Kentuckians. The event means something different to everyone, but there are some common themes we hear when we ask what it means to attendees. Belonging. Freedom. Safety. Acceptance. Love.

Phoenix Rising of Lexington

The Front Porch Concert Series

Date: June 28 and July 26

Time: 6 PM – 8 PM

Location: 577 E 3rd St

Located at the footprint of Isaac & Lucy Murphy’s home, From the Front Porch is a free summer jazz series brought to you by Phoenix Rising Lex and Lexington Parks & Recreation. Bring your own blankets and chairs for a picnic or grab dinner from a food truck on site. Check out the full schedule below, and make sure to catch your favorite act!

From the Front Porch 2025 Schedule:

Saturday, June 28: Sister La La and Friends

Saturday, July 26: Hear by Design

Antagonist Productions

Shakespeare in the Park

Date: July 17

Time: 6:30 PM – 9 PM

Location: Woodland Park

Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring tragedies, telling the story of two young lovers caught in the crossfire of a bitter feud between their families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Through poetry, passion and heartbreak, the play explores themes of love, fate, conflict and the devastating consequences of hate.

Lexington Children’s Theatre

Cinderella

Date: July 24

Time: 7 PM

Location: 418 W Short Street

Founded in 1938, Lexington Children’s Theatre LCT is a fully professional, non‐profit organization dedicated to the intellectual and cultural enrichment of young people. We are a values-based company guided by our mission statement and beliefs.

Kentucky Ballet Theatre

Ballet Under the Stars

Date: July 30 – Aug. 3 (performances each night)

Time: Gates open at 6 PM

Location: Woodland Park 601 E High St

At this unique event, audiences experience a night of professional ballet, complete with stage, lighting and costumes in the unique setting of Woodland Park. The five-night event begins each evening with a pre-show youth production at 8 p.m. This year’s pre-show will be A Broadway Ballet, featuring dances inspired by Broadway favorites.

Lexington Art League, Lexington Parks & Rec

Woodland Art Fair

Date: August 16 & 17

Time: 10 AM – 6 PM

Location: Woodland Park 601 E High St

The Woodland Art Fair is one of Central Kentucky’s largest free cultural events with an average attendance of more than 70,000 people. With food and drink, musical performances throughout the weekend, and nearly 200 of the nation’s finest artists, the Woodland Art Fair has something for everyone!

Parks & Recreation Lexington

Nature In Your Neighborhood

Dates: Multiple

Time: 10 AM – Noon

Location: Varies (see description)

Nature in Your Neighborhood: Seed Savvy – July 15 at Northeastern Park, 140 N Eastern Ave

Nature in Your Neighborhood: Grown Fashion – July 31 at Kenwick Park, 312 Owsley Ave

Nature in Your Neighborhood: Wild Playdough – Aug 1 at Marlboro Park, 1870 Benton Place

Nature in Your Neighborhood: Earthbenders – Aug 2 at Northeastern Park, 140 N Eastern Ave

Nature in Your Neighborhood: Tree Huggers – Aug 5 at Dogwood Park, 2393 Dogwood Trace Blvd

Nature in Your Neighborhood: Stone Soup – Aug 7 at Duncan Park, 530 N. Limestone St

Nature in Your Neighborhood: Once Upon a Park – Aug 8 at Woodland Park, 601 E. High St

Project Ricochet – Urban Art Collective

The World Art Camp

Date: July 14 – 18

Time: 11 AM – 1 PM

Location: LexArts

A 1-week immersive camp combining visual art, culture, and intuitive art. Youth will explore identity, expression, and resilience through painting, journaling, and creative dialogue.

Project Ricochet

Pareidolia Paradox with Andrew Cohen (Urban Art Collective)

Date: July 18

Time: 5 PM – 8 PM

Location: Central Library, Lexington, Kentucky

Join us for a powerful visual exploration with Urban Art Collective artist Andrew Cohen as he unveils Pareidolia Paradox, an interactive art experience that challenges viewers to see beyond the surface and reflect on the unseen impacts of addiction in our communities.

Project Ricochet – STOP THE VAPE! Initiative

The Ricochet Squad: Youth Public Health Leadership Academy

Dates: July 29

Time: 11 AM – 1 PM

Location: LexArts

A day-long training for youth interested in health careers, advocacy, and leadership. Includes hands-on activities and policy learning centered on tobacco and health equity.

PR Health & Black Roots Farm

PR HEALTH: FARM RX FUTURES: Youth Nutrition & Gardening Lab

Date: August 5

Time: 11 AM – 2 PM

Location: LexArts

Youth learn to grow food, cook nutritious meals, and explore ancestral farming practices. Activities include meal planning, herbal remedies, and farm-to-table experiences.

Project Ricochet – Urban Art Collective

HAIRITAGE: Art & Culture Residency

Date: August 7

Time: 11 AM – 1 PM

Location: LexArts

This 1-day cultural residency empowers youth to explore their natural hair and cultural heritage through painting, digital design interactive exhibits.

If you attended a Cultural Pass event this summer, we would love to hear from you! Please fill out this short survey to provide feedback on the Cultural Pass program. 

December 2025
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Who may register as a Cultural Pass venue?

 

Arts and culture organizations located in Fayette County.

 

501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. If you are not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and/or located in Fayette County and would like to be considered for eligibility, please fill out the registration form. The LexArts Cultural Pass Committee will review all submitted forms.

The Cultural Pass Committee will review all submitted registrations. Cultural Pass venues are encouraged to become members of the LexArts Network.

 

Please note: 

        • Cultural Pass venue participants that current LexArts grantees must comply with all grant requirements and reporting to be eligible for this opportunity.

 

If your organization would like to register your venue or activity, please review our venue guidelines and fill out the application form below.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Where can I pick up my pass?
We have partnered with the Lexington Public Library to be your one-stop location to pick up your Cultural Pass! Each Library Branch will have information and passes available. To find your local branch, please visit their website at www.lexpublib.org. Cultural Passes are also available at ArtsPlace, 161 N Mill St.

 

What type of activities are offered?
The activities are all different. They consist of performance videos, arts and cultural projects, workshops, and more.

 

Can I get free transportation to Cultural Pass activities?
Yes! Your cultural pass card acts as a free bus pass for LexTran and we’ve partnered with American Red Cross Wheels to provide transportation for individuals with disabilities and accessibility issues. Please register for their services here.

 

Can I redeem my pass for another activity not on the list?
This pass is not refundable and cannot be returned or redeemed for cash or credit.

 

Can I bring my parents?
Each student participant may bring one accompanying adult. The accompanying adult will receive a free, one-time, in-person admission to each of the participating venues (one adult per Cultural Pass participant).

 

Can I attend the DiverCity Festival?
The DiverCity Festival is completely free and open to the public!

 

When does Cultural Pass end?
Cultural Pass is available throughout Summer 2025.

 

How many times may I use the Cultural Pass?
There are no limits to how many activities you attend or reserve, usage is limited to the participating activities and venues.

 

How do I cancel a Culture Pass event registration?
If you need to cancel, please reach out to the arts venue, and give three days’ notice (when possible) to allow someone else to use the pass.

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