The Fayette County Fair, held at Red Mile, was a day to celebrate Kentucky Sire Stakes Day with food, shopping and music.

The Fayette County Fair was a fun event for all of Lexington. Tons of vendors set up camp at Red Mile for all the people there to watch harness races and listen to music.

Walker Montgomery, Avery Crabtree and Conch Republic performed during the event. There was a stage next to the barn with an open area for people to sit in their lawn chairs and enjoy the music.

“We have beer tasting, a bourbon tasting in the barn and a kid’s area with a petting zoo and princesses,” said Patricia Cooksey, Assistant Director of Kentucky Breeder Incentive.

There was an abundance of families at this event. For these families, there were many dinner options, desert trucks and a large kids’ area with different activities that were child-friendly but fun for all.

Cooksey said that this event has been in the works for almost a year. Bluegrass Sports Commission, Red Mile and Kentucky Horse Racing Commission partnered to bring together this event to draw attention to the harness racing that goes on at Red Mile.

According to Cooksey, harness racing is huge in other places, like New Jersey and Canada, and it was once big in Kentucky, as well. She wants to bring back the love for harness racing in Kentucky and thinks this event will help.

The Fayette County Fair partnered with Lexington Bourbon Society to bring a bourbon tasting event to the fair. Tickets, $25 online or $30 at the door, were available and gave guests eight tastes and an experience with professional bourbon educator Tim Knittel.

Aside from the bourbon, the fair also had an assortment of beer breweries stationed on site. Country Boy Brewing, West Sixth Brewing, Blue Stallion Brewing, Ethereal Brewing and multiple other brewing companies had options for drinks at the fair.

Like the breweries, there were many food truck options to pick from. Nathan’s Taqueria, Old Kentucky Kettle Corn, Bella’s Mini Donuts and The Rooster’s Whistle were just some of the options supplying a wide variety of food to choose from.

Sibbie Blevins of Sibbie’s Street Sweets said she saw the event on Facebook and asked to be involved. She said that they would want to come back if this event comes back next year.

“It has been a great day with great people,” Blevins said.

Cooksey said she hopes that the event will bring people to Red Mile, and they will end up enjoying the harness racing enough to come back more often.

To view the harness racing schedule, visit Red Mile’s website.