The Henry Clay Estate

The Challenge of Sustainability in the Cultural Sector: Insights into Museums
2026-04-23 17:00 - 18:30 UTC
The Challenge of Sustainability in the Cultural Sector: Insights into Museums A discussion with Professor Mara Cerquetti, University of Macerata
What does it mean for a museum to be sustainable — and what role can museums play in building a more sustainable world?
This panel discussion will explore the relationship between museums and sustainability from both directions: how museums can operate more sustainably, and how they can use their unique position to advance sustainability in the communities they serve. Drawing on the latest research and data on how cultural institutions are responding to the climate crisis, Professor Cerquetti will also unpack the newly updated international definition of museums (ICOM, 2022) and what it signals about the sector’s evolving values.
This project has been supported, in part, by the UKinSPIRE (Seeding Partnerships for International Research Engagement) initiative, an internal seed funding program jointly administered by the University of Kentucky International Center and Office of the Vice President for Research.

Community Clean Up Day
2026-04-25 09:00 - 12:00 | Ashland Estate, 120 Sycamore Rd, Lexinton, Kentucky, 40502
Join us for our annual Spring Clean-Up Day at Ashland as we prepare the grounds for a new season of visitors, tours, and events.
We’ll be tackling projects across the estate, including:

Touch-up painting

Cleaning and refreshing signage

Clearing downed branches

Spreading wood chips on trees and trails

Whether you can stay for an hour or the full morning, your help makes a visible difference.
Please dress for outdoor work. Gloves are recommended — and if you have a favorite wheelbarrow, feel free to bring it along.
All assistance is appreciated. Let’s get Ashland ready for spring!

E Pluribus Horror Media Club
2026-05-03 14:00 - 15:30 | Lexington Public Library, Tates Creek Branch, Small Meeting Room, 3628 Walden Dr, Lexington, 40517, United States
Pluribus Horror is a media club at where history meets horror.
Through books, film, and comics, we explore how horror helps us confront important, complicated, and lesser-known parts of history—stories shaped by power, memory, fear, and what is often left unsaid. Horror gives us a way to ask harder questions and examine the past in new ways.

Each gathering centers on a shared work and an open, thoughtful discussion. You don’t need to be a horror expert. If you’re curious, engaged, and willing to explore history from unexpected angles—this club is for you.

Next Meeting Topic: Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
2016 novel by Matt Ruff that blends historical fiction, pulp noir, and Lovecraftian horror to explore racism in 1950s Jim Crow America through the story of Atticus Turner, a Black man on a road trip to find his missing father. The book combines the mundane horrors of segregation with supernatural threats, using classic horror tropes to highlight the real-world terror of systemic racism.

Small Meeting Room, Lexington Public Library, Tates Creek Branch

Annual Lawn Party at Ashland
2026-06-27
One of Lexington’s most beloved traditions!

Each summer, Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate opens its 17-acre historic grounds for a beautiful and fun summer evening. The Annual Lawn Party brings together hundreds of guests for an elegant evening of gourmet local cuisine, a silent auction, music, and celebration — all set against the backdrop of one of Kentucky’s most iconic landmarks.
Now in its 29th year, the Lawn Party is Ashland’s premier fundraising event, with proceeds supporting historic preservation, educational programming, and cultural experiences that keep this remarkable estate alive and accessible to the community.
Tables available now, general tickets on sale May 12!
Secure your spot online now!

For more information, please contact Jim Clark.
Many thanks to our lead sponsors!

Jazz on the Lawn
2026-09-06 17:30 - 20:00 | Ashland Estate, 120 Sycamore Rd, Lexinton, Kentucky, 40502
presents
Jazz on the Lawn
Lee Carroll’s C The Beat returns to Ashland’s Jazz on the Lawn, and they’re bringing the rhythm that makes your feet move and your heart sing.
A Lexington favorite, Lee never plays the same show twice—each year is a brand new sonic adventure featuring top-tier local talent, original tunes, and infectious energy. Bring a blanket, bring a friend, and prepare for a night of music you’ll feel in your bones. This year’s set? Let’s just say… you don’t want to miss it.
Stay tuned for more details!

Parktoberfest
2026-10-03 | Ashland Estate, 120 Sycamore Rd, Lexinton, Kentucky, 40502
West Sixth Brewing & Ashland present
Parktoberfest
Back by popular demand, Parktoberfest is a celebration uniting Lexington’s breweries, local food trucks, pretzel vendors, and more!
Stay tuned for more updates!
