In 1989, a small block grant turned into a single day of celebration in Lexington, Kentucky. This weekend, that same gathering returns for its 37th year — three full days of culture, art, and community that have quietly become one of the city's most loved traditions.
The Roots and Heritage Festival opens Friday in Lexington's historic East End, the neighborhood around the Lyric Theater. And this year's theme carries a message aimed straight at the youngest members of the community: "I Am Legacy."
Festival Chair Kimberly Baird explained what that theme means. "We wanted our babies to recognize where you came from, who you're descendants of, and what you're gonna carry forward," she said. It's a reminder that the festival isn't just about the past — it's about handing something meaningful to the next generation.
The weekend kicks off Friday at 6:30 p.m. with a moment of peace and harmony. Organizers felt it was important to open with prayer in light of recent events, a small gesture Baird said sets the tone for unity. The main program runs from 7 to 11 p.m.
Saturday starts early with a 3K run/walk at 8 a.m., held in partnership with the Lexington African American Sports Hall of Fame, followed by a parade at 10 a.m.
But the festival is about more than the schedule, Baird says. Over the decades, it has become the kind of event families plan reunions around — a rare place "that brings people together, community together... that you can just sit and be happy and be safe." She recalls past traditions warmly: the midnight basketball games where the "old timers" came to play, and the step show where sororities and fraternities filled the streets with rhythm and pride. "It was a lot of fun. It really was," she said, remembering days when she was "much younger."
The festival almost didn't need to exist in its current form — Baird notes the festival started small and simple back in 1989, just "a little block grant" funding a single day. Now it spans a full weekend and draws people from across the city.
She understands some community members may feel hesitant to attend, but she urges them to reconsider. "We can't let those things go away because you've got some people acting stupid because then you will have nothing." Law enforcement will be present, as in previous years, so everyone can gather safely.
For Baird, the festival's location is sacred. "We know the relevance and the importance of why we're down here this historic area, the Lyric Theater, all the things, and so we wanna make sure we keep this sacred."
The Roots and Heritage Festival is proof that some traditions are worth protecting — and that legacy, like community, is something you build together, year after year.