Greetings Alabama fans, and welcome to our weekly Tailgate Takeover, where we help the state of Alabama’s football fans eat, drink and explore before kickoff, one town at a time. This week takes us to bourbon country and the Bluegrass State: No. 13 Alabama begins SEC play on Saturday, September 12, with a 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) kickoff at Kroger Field in Lexington, televised on ABC.
Both teams enter the weekend as of yet undefeated, but in the immortal words of Tina Turner from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, “Two men enter, one man leaves!” This year’s Kentucky team is nothing to scoff at, so this week should be a better litmus test than a typical week two conference opener.
Getting Oriented
(City of Lexington/Facebook)
Kroger Field sits on the University of Kentucky’s campus, located just a few miles south of downtown Lexington–and it has a wonderful college town feel. Tailgating culture in Lexington revolves around the campus, so plan on either participating in some good ‘ole Kentucky tailgating, or spend your pre-game in downtown Lexington and opt to drive or rideshare a few miles to the stadium. Give yourself some extra time for traffic either way; campus roads will be crowded early for this gameday.
Where to Eat
Lexington’s food scene rewards fans willing to meander a little more than walking distance away from the stadium gates. Carson’s Food & Drink–On Main is a fantastic place for a proper sit-down meal downtown, known for their steaks, their must-have mac and cheese, and good quality service.
If you prefer to do your meals a little more quick and casual, Local Taco has quite the reputation as a gameday favorite in Lexington. Expect a bit of a wait, but it’s worth your time. And lastly, if you’re wanting a good pizza, Pietana is a local favorite with tons of specialty pies to choose from.
Where to Drink
For sports bar vibes, Halligans and Walk-On’s both have plenty of tv screens, solid bar food, and a lively gameday atmosphere. Winchell’s is a Lexington institution worth planning your day around–famous for their sandwiches and bar scene; it’s been around for over 30 years and is a great place to visit if you want to experience a Lexington icon.
And of course, if you want to experience what the region’s signature beverage industry has to offer, head over to Distillery District and Barrel House Distillery for a bourbon pit-stop before or after the game. They’re about as distinctly Kentucky as it gets.
(Barrel House Distillery/Facebook)
Things to Do
Another thing as distinctly Kentucky as bourbon: Horses. Kentucky Horse Park is a great way to experience it, with grounds, museums, and horse shows that make for an easy half-day visit if you’re arriving early or staying through Sunday.
Keeneland’s Fall Meet doesn’t begin until October 2nd this year, so there’s no live racing this weekend. But the grounds are still open, and if you’re horse racing curious, they are definitely worth a visit, even without a race card.
And if horses aren’t your thing, the 21c Museum Hotel offers free contemporary art galleries that make for an easy chill stop if you’re looking to kill some time that way.
Where to Shop
Downtown Lexington’s Main Street is filled with local boutiques and shops, and is worth a walk-through for shopping enthusiasts. For a souvenir with some regional flavor, look for bourbon shops and horse country gift stores. A bottle from a local distillery or a horse themed keepsake would be a fun way to remember the trip.
Know Before You Go
Lexington’s footprint is smaller than some of the other gameday towns on this year’s schedule, so get to campus early–especially if you’re parking–as the lots tend to fill up early. Downtown to stadium isn’t walkable, so plan your transportation in advance.
When packing, note that Lexington in September runs a little cooler than Alabama–especially at night–and some rain is forecasted, so pack some rain gear if possible. The sun will still be out however, so don’t forget to sun block up with your favorite SPF.
Alabama opens up SEC play against a Kentucky team looking to make an early season statement–enjoy the trip, the bourbon, the bluegrass, and RTR! Check back next week as we pick our next Gameday Town Spotlight.
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