For the 34th time, downtown Lexington will be transformed this weekend into a place where culture is highlighted. The Roots and Heritage Festival will once again feature a wide variety of vendors with wares, lots of music, and food. Festival Chair Kimberly Baird said it’s important the event remains an East End tradition.
“This is where we had the Lyric Theater, this is where we had predominantly black businesses and doctors and lawyers and pharmacists and everything like that. East End Neighborhood Association. So this is the relevant part of this community right here and we bring it here so everyone can remain why we have it here,” said Baird.
The main stage features jazz, blues, and R and B and at the other end of Elm Tree Lane, youth performances are highlighted.
Baird said the fall event was canceled due to COVID a few years ago. When it went virtual the next year, she heard about it.
“Yeah, that didn’t go well, which is good, I love it because this is the biggest festival like this that we have here in this city and in surrounding cities. We have people coming from all over the country that come to this,” said Baird.
Baird said she’s been involved for all 34 years, the early years helping her mother who was the vendor coordinator. The parade is at 10:00 Saturday morning.
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