CRAVE food + music festival

06/19/2026

🔥 Crave is back.

July 31 - August 1, we’re bringing Lexington’s favorite food and music festival to downtown at Gatton Park on the Town Branch.

Local restaurants. Live music. Cold drinks. Two days of everything that makes Lexington delicious.

🎟️ Presale weekend passes are on sale now for just $15- but not for long. Grab yours before prices go up at CraveLexington.com⁠.

A big thank you to presenting sponsor Kroger⁠ for helping make it happen.

An epic festival of local food and music in Lexington, Kentucky. July 31 – August 1 at Gatton Park in downtown Lexington.

06/12/2026

🍑🥃🎶 CRAVE is coming home.

On July 31–August 1, CRAVE food + music festival returns for its 13th year and settles into its beautiful new home at Gatton Park on the Town Branch in downtown Lexington.

For one weekend, we’ll gather around the table to celebrate the things Kentucky does best: incredible local food, live music, bourbon, farmers, chefs, makers, and the stories behind them all.

Think chef demos. Kentucky music. Ouita Michel’s Hoecake Hoedown. Distilled in Kentucky Night. Food Network star and Kentucky chef Jason Smith. Local restaurants. Artisan makers. Bourbon. Community.

The food will be local. The music will be Kentucky. The vibe will be unmistakably Lexington.

📍 Gatton Park on the Town Branch
📅 July 31–August 1, 2026



⚠️ VENDOR ALERT: BEWARE OF SCAMMERS

We’ve been made aware of individuals falsely claiming to sell vendor spaces for CRAVE.

Please note:
• Smiley Pete Publishing is the ONLY authorized entity selling vendor spaces for CRAVE.
• We do NOT accept Zelle payments.
• All approved vendors receive an official invoice directly from Smiley Pete Publishing.
• We will never request payment through personal payment apps or unofficial channels.

We’re intentionally curating a smaller vendor lineup this year, and spaces are filling quickly.

Interested in joining us?

📧 [email protected]

Come hungry. Stay awhile.

05/01/2026

If you haven’t grabbed your tickets to Houndstock yet… this is your moment. 🎟️🔥

Two full days of Americana, bluegrass, blues, and the best BBQ in the Bluegrass—what more could you want? Come hungry, stay for the music, and don’t miss out. 🐾🎶🍖

04/28/2026

🎸 BIG NEWS: There’s a New Festival in Town! 🐾

Crave fans, we know you love a good time, but there’s a brand-new party starting at the new Gatton Park on the Town Branch this May... and we want to get you in for free!

Introducing Houndstock Music & BBQ Festival—two days of incredible Americana, Bluegrass, and world-class BBQ. To celebrate their first year, we’re giving away a 6-Pack of Weekend Passes so you can bring your whole squad!

How to Enter:

Head over to the page.

Check out their Pinned Post to see the full music lineup.

Come back here and comment: Tell us which artist you’re most excited to see (and which BBQ you’re craving!).

Bonus Entry:
👍 Give the page a Follow to stay updated on food lineups and the winner announcement!

Winner will be selected on May 4. This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by Meta. Must be 18+ to win.

04/17/2026

🚨 LAST CALL 🚨

Today is the final day to sign up for Lexington Porch Fest! 🎶

Got a band? A front porch? A love for live music and community? This is your moment. Porch Fest is all about turning neighborhoods into stages and bringing people together in the most authentic, homegrown way.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of one of Lexington’s most beloved grassroots music experiences. https://smileypete.com/lexingtonporchfest

04/15/2026

Y'ALL. The lineup just dropped and we cannot keep quiet about this one.

HOUNDSTOCK is coming to Gatton Park on May 15–16 — and Lexington, you are going to love this.

Fifteen incredible Kentucky artists. Two days of live music. The best BBQ in the Bluegrass. Bourbon. And yes, you can bring your dog.

The lineup:

Bee Taylor & The Lexington Philharmonic String Quartet // Tee Dee Young // Bedford // Stoll Vaughan // Eric Bolander // Treyvon King Band // Sydney Adams // Low Gap // Dead Air Dennis & Bryan Himes // Mash Grass // Corduroy Brown // Lance Rodgers // Samuel James // Cait Justice // Emma Hansman

From blues legends to the next wave of Americana songwriters, this is the sound of Kentucky — right here in our backyard.

We need your help making this thing huge. Share this post, tag your people, and let's show up big for these artists and for Lexington. First-year festivals don't happen without a community behind them, and that's what we do best around here.

Grab your tickets at houndstockfest.com 🎶🐕

A 2-day americana & alt-country music festival at Gatton Park in Lexington, Kentucky. May 15–16, 2026. Live music, BBQ, and more.

01/19/2026

Your favorites aren't going to crown themselves.
Best of Lex 2026 voting is live—and you can vote once per category, every single day. Rally your people. Rep your spots.
Let's settle this, Lexington.
Vote now → bestoflex.smileypete.com/

Smiley Pete's Best of Lex

11/06/2025

🥃 is back — November 6–15!

Join us as we celebrate the spirit of the Bluegrass with 10 days of off-menu spirited cocktail creations partnering with , , and - all across Lexington. From iconic distilleries to craft cocktail bars and restaurants, it’s the ultimate celebration of Kentucky’s signature spirit! 🌾🥃

We’re proud to partner with our presenting sponsor, , whose Whiskey Wednesdays raffles have raised nearly $2 million for Central Kentucky nonprofits. Don’t miss their Pappy Palooza — where just $5 could land you a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle and support great local causes! 🙌

🎟️ Learn more and plan your Bourbon Week adventure: LexingtonBourbonWeek.com and download the app now!
Enter Give270 raffles: give270.org/whiskeywednesdays

09/25/2025

🍕 Hey Crave Fans! Miss us already? 😉

We can’t wait to see you at Crave 2026 at next August! 🎉

But if your foodie cravings can’t wait…
🔥 is happening NOW through Sunday!

👉 $10 off-menu veggie + meat pies at every stop
👉 Every slice = a new reason to fall in love 🍕

📲 Download the app
✅ Check in while you eat
🏆 Enter to win FREE pizza for a year from + Smashing Tomato

Cravings = handled 😎