LEXINGTON VETERANS CONNECTION
2022 LEXINGTON VETERANS FESTIVAL
On this Veterans Day, we are sad to announce that we have decided to cancel this year’s Veterans’ Festival scheduled for tomorrow, November 12 at Masterson Station Park. We want to honor and celebrate our heroes, but feel it is best to do so under the right conditions. Unfortunately, we cannot control the weather and with that comes tough decisions at times.
Thank you to all of our sponsors and partners who worked to make what would have been an amazing celebration this year.
Our team is already planning for 2023, so look for our exciting events to honor those who have served then!
Happy Veteran’s Day. We appreciate all of you!
We are delighted to say Erica Bivens will be joining us on Saturday, November 12.
​
Erica's husband spent many years in the U.S. Coast Guard active duty and now is in the Reserve. Coming from a Veteran and military family, she is the perfect fit for the day.
​
We are grateful to her for volunteering her time.
Starting at 11 a.m. the Fast Trax Professional Skydiving Team out of Ohio will be landing in the fairgrounds. After that our program will begin with the presentation of the colors by the Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Whit Whitaker will dazzle us with his singing of the National Anthem, followed by a prayer from Rev. Dr. Jim Thurman.
Mr. Whitaker is the Executive Director at The Lyric Theatre and the current president of the Lexington-Fayette NAACP.
Rev. Thurman is a member of the State Commander Ky. Command Council, KY’s First Male Veteran of Year, has received the Congressional Record “Outstanding Kentuckian”, was inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame and is co-Chair of VRUCK and a member of the Commission on Veterans’ Affairs.
April Brown, retired Lt. Colonel with 29 3/4 year of military service with the KY National Guard, is gracing us with her presence and her wonderful rendition of God Bless America. Ms. Brown has held numerous leadership positions to include multiple company commands and battalion command. She is currently employed with the KY Dept. of Military Affairs as the Division Director for Administrative Services. She is a retired Police Sergeant from Lexington Division of Police with 20 years of service. Lt. Colonel Brown is married to Chief Warrant Officer Three (retired) Barry Brown and they have two teenage sons, Eli and Gabe Brown. Impressive to say the least!
​
We have a lot more in store, so be sure to come out and see what else there is!
Activities
Inflatables
Face Painting
Obstacle Course
Parachutists
Static Displays
Car Cruise In
Vendors
Entertainment
T-Shirts
Need a t-shirt to commemorate the 2022 Lexington Veterans Festival? Thanks to Big Bang Customs and all of our sponsors, we will have a limited amount on hand the day of the festival! We have sizes Youth Small to Adult XXXL. Check, cash and credit card will be accepted
​
Youth $10
Adult $15
In the News
The Lexington Veterans Festival is coming up Saturday, Nov. 12th at Masterson Station Park. Erica Bivens not only had us on her show but is doing us the honor of helping emcee the event. There's a LOT of new things the committee says you can expect this year for the entire family and she helped us cover those details!
​
Councilmember Josh McCurn, District 2 and Staff Sergeant Alexandria Ambrosio, a US Air Force Recruiter, joined ABC 36's Good Afternoon Kentucky to tell more about this year's festival.
​
HUGE shout out to Tom Ackerman as he filmed a PSA to air on LEX 18 for our Lexington Veterans Festival & Cruise-In.
​
It is heartwarming to see how much support we have for this event. To those who have helped us promote it, we cannot thank you enough!
Festival Committee Chair Councilmember Josh McCurn, District 2 and United States Air Force Recruiter Staff Sergeant Alexandria Ambrosio joined Martina Barksdale and twin brother Marcellus Barksdale on Everyday Kentucky this morning
Thank you to our hosts and WKYT for giving us the opportunity to spread the word about the
Lexington Veterans Festival & Cruise-In taking place on November 12th from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at
Masterson Station Park Fairgrounds.
While we missed not getting to hang with Meteorologist Jim Caldwell, we still had a blast!
View the interview now!
Our very own Brian Engle joined Jennifer Nime Palumbo on Best of the Bluegrass to talk more about the Week of Valor!
​
We will see you on Saturday, November 12 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Masterson Station Park as we wrap up a week of celebration at this year's festival!
Information
Curious where to go on festival day? Look no further!
A few things to remember:
-
Festival is taking place at Masterson Station Park (3051 Leestown Road) inside the Fairgrounds
-
Main entrance will be the one facing Leestown Road
-
Main parking lot will also be on the Leestown Road side
-
Accessible parking and drop off locations for those unable to make the walk from the parking lot
-
Signage and volunteers will help direct you to the right place
-
Cruise In vehicles should use Entrance 1 off of Ruffian Way
-
Lexington, KY Toys for Tots will have two boxes at the entrance or NEW and UNWRAPPED toys
-
Heaters will be set up by the Lions Club Pavilion
