Warehouse Block Party returns for a second year

Warehouse Block Party No. 2 will begin at 5 p.m. on June 10. 

McKenna Horsley

One Lexington neighborhood will celebrate local food, music and vendors for a second year in a row next weekend.

The Warehouse Block Party began last year to celebrate the official naming of the neighborhood, according to Chad Walker, an event organizer. This summer, the block party will happen once a month on three different Fridays starting June 10.

“A lot of times, if you just have one event, people think if you miss that one, then you miss out on both,” Walker said. “But this year, we wanted to have three so we’d have three chances for people to see the neighborhood and kind of experience what the Warehouse Block has to offer without missing a chance if they weren’t in town for the August show.”

Other improvements made since last year’s party include more food vendors and a solution to long beer truck lines— the event will staff a beer truck themselves

Walker said the crowd could be comparable to crowds at Thursday Night Live and The Night Market, but Walker Properties, the group that puts on the block party, did not count attendees last year.

Four music acts will play at the first Warehouse Block Party. Walker said organizers were inspired by WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour to include a child performer, therefore fiddle player Phoebe Wagner will go first on Friday at about 5 p.m. Bill Abel, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes and Tee Dee Young are also scheduled to perform on Friday.

“We are trying to support the local (acts) while bringing in something that nobody has ever seen in this town,” Walker said.

Vendors such as Crank ‘n’ Boom, Spotz Gelato, Highland Brewing Company, National Provisions, Locals’ and more will also be at Friday’s event. Other local organizations like local artists and nonprofits will also have a part in the block party. At the June show, Walker said a fashion show would take place sponsored by Lucia’s Imports.

“(The Warehouse Block Party is) just a ball. I mean it’s just an absolute blast. It’s very kid-friendly and it’s very… you just get to see so much good music that you wouldn’t normally see any place else in town and it’s free,” Wallker said.” As far as summer festivals go, I think it’s really becoming the benchmark for all the ones in Lexington.”

North Ashland Avenue will close at about 3 p.m. for vendors to set up. The Warehouse Block Party will begin at 5 p.m. and will last until around 9 p.m. The event is free to the public.