visit lex logo

01. Mission

To connect travelers, locals and meeting planners to the best of lexington, kentucky..

• Promising a refreshing change of pace from the big city
• Igniting curiosity and inspiring people to experience something new
• Surprising visitors with unexpected adventures
• Delivering best-in-class hospitality and planning support
• Elevating the perception of Lexington as a premier meeting destination
• Recruiting events, conventions and group trips
• Providing a resource for new attractions, restaurants and events
• Promoting local businesses

02. Brand Pillars

With thousands of attractions, restaurants, and community stakeholders, visitlex is responsible for supporting all sides of lexington. brand pillars categorize all the places and events lexington has to offer, while helping us understand how to leverage them in communications. our brand pillars fall into two categories:.

• Arts & Entertainment

03. Personality

A vibrant, colorful destination.

Take a look around. Lexington is a city filled with color–from the rolling hills of horse country, to the dozens of murals around town, to the people who call this place home. We look to bring that color, vibrancy and energy into everything we do.

Open to Everyone

We take inclusion seriously here. It’s not just a buzzword or a box to check. We work to make Lexington a more welcoming, safe and accessible place for all kinds of people to enjoy.

Unexpectedly Cool

We hear it all the time. Lexington defies expectation. An eclectic mix of old and new, tradition and progress, art and industry, Lexington is surprisingly cool. We like to turn perceptions of Lexington on their head.

Bland or Distasteful

We keep things interesting without being obnoxious.

Exclusive or pretentious

Keep it light, keep it fun, keep it inclusive at all times.

Big City or Backwoods

We’re somewhere in between. The best of both worlds.

Playful Meets Respectful

Even though we like to push the limits, we make sure to mind our manners. We’re never too loud, rude or arrogant, and our language is always grounded in respect for the brand (and the city of Lexington).

We like to keep things interesting. Every headline, every sentence of body copy, every piece of microcopy must show our personality, passion and playfulness.

Too Southern

We’re not Deep South, or antebellum. We don’t talk with a twang or a drawl. It’s a fine line but when it’s wrong, we’ll know it.

04. Elevator Pitch

• View history
• 1.1 ????–2013
• 2.1 2013–present
• 3 External links

Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau [ ]

–2013 [ ].

VisitLex [ ]

2013–present [ ].

External links [ ]

• Official website

• Disciplines
• Enter Competition
• Get Our Newsletter

• Subscribe Now
• Award Winners
• Book Reviews
• Creative Hotlist
• Advertise With Us
• Submit Work
• Write For Us
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

©2024 Coyne & Blanchard, Inc. All rights Reserved.

VisitLEX identity

Bldg created a cohesive brand that suits the many facets of a diverse city..

VisitLEX (the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Lexington, Kentucky) brings out the best of the Bluegrass. Lexington has plenty of diverse attractions, and VisitLEX, as the portal to those attractions, needed a cohesive look and feel that could still suit every different facet of the city. Design studio BLDG calls Kentucky home, so it was perfectly positioned to create the new identity for VisitLEX. BLDG created an instantly recognizable brand based on a blue horse called, of course, Big Lex. The studio also developed a new architecture model that is a unified way to capitalize on Lexington’s diverse experiences, and a brand standards manual to explain how the design elements should be used to communicate the brand consistently and effectively.

Browse Projects

• Advertising
• Illustration
• Interactive
• Photography

A conversation with VisitLex

We sat down to chat with visitlex, the convention and visitors bureau of lexington, to learn more about their plans for lexington’s growing tourism industry..

• Copy Link copied

People travel far and wide to get a taste of what the Bluegrass has to offer. | Photo courtesy of VisitLex, Jeff Rogers

You may have noticed an uptick in out-of-state license plates over the past few weeks. That’s because it’s peak tourist season in Lexington .

Whether it’s bourbon , sports , or our unique culture ( probably all three) , one thing’s for certain — more folks are starting to take notice of just how special the Bluegrass is .

We sat down with Mary Quinn Ramer , President of VisitLex to learn more about our tourism industry .

Mary has served as the President of VisitLex for the last seven years. | Photo courtesy of VisitLex

• Quote : “We help drive economic development — we’re marketers, promoters + salespeople. We do this to help improve the quality of life for Lexingtonians.”
• Need to know : VisitLex employees are not city employees.
• Important : Local city taxes do not fund VisitLex.
• Dive deeper : VisitLex is funded through the collection of transient room taxes , or taxes collected from short-term rentals — hotels, Airbnbs, and soon , campgrounds.

Lexington as a Brand

• Quote : “We are working towards making Lexington a recognizable brand. We want to show visitors that we are a progressive, modern + inviting city.”
• Consider : Lexington has two major defining features — a densely populated urban core with neoclassical architectural characteristics + a beautiful, easily-accessible rural landscape . Similar to old-world Europe.
• Branding : “Big Lex,” the blue horse we all know and love , was created to reflect our city’s historical legacy moving into a modern future . And yes, it’s also Kentucky blue .

“Big Lex” has become the mascot + symbol for our city. | Photo courtesy of VisitLex

Responsible Tourism

As the Bluegrass region continues to grow in popularity, VisitLex is working to create a tourism model that showcases our culture + drives economic development — not one that causes our city to lose its authenticity .

• Quote : “We’ve seen several surrounding cities grow in such a way, that locals argue they’ve lost their heart and soul. I think that’s because they failed to engage their citizens in the conversation.”

Community services

Senior programs, aging services, community centers, Global Lex, Family Care Center, sister cities and information for families with children

Mayor's office, city departments, councilmembers, council meetings, dispute resolution and boards/commissions

Infrastructure and streets

Includes traffic, LEXserv, trash, recycling, environmental information, parking and transportation

Jobs and contracts

City contracts, RFPs, bids and job opportunities with the city government and related agencies

Licensing, permits and development

Includes applications for starting a business, tax forms, building and zoning permits

Neighborhoods and housing

Neighborhood associations, grants, housing assistance and housing issues

Public safety

Includes police, fire, animal control, community corrections, crime, security and emergency preparedness

Parks, events, programs, tourism and activities

Lexington 250th Celebration!

In 2025, we will celebrate Lexington’s founding in 1775. In September 2023, Mayor Linda Gorton announced the members of the Mayor’s 250 Lex Commission. The commission is planning an entire year’s worth of events honoring the cultural and historic significance of Lexington’s past, present and future.

Lexington was founded in 1775, one year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, by William McConnell and frontier explorers who set up camp near a natural springs, now known as McConnell Springs. In honor of the American Revolution battles in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, the frontiersman named their site Lexington.

One focus of the commission will be the month of June 2025, called ‘Come Home’ month. June is the month Lexington is believed to have been named. The city is inviting anyone who has lived here, has family here, or would like to see all we have to offer to travel here for a month-long cultural experience.

Check back for more details as they become available on the design competition, sponsorships and scheduled events. To submit suggestions, email  [email protected] .

250LEX Cultural Grant Program

The 250LEX Commission invites Fayette County residents and non-profit organizations to apply for grants to assist with the creation of high-quality, meaningful programming, exhibits, events or public art related to Lexington’s 250th anniversary occurring in 2025. Review the complete guidelines and eligibility before submitting an application.    

Cultural Grant Guidelines

Cultural Grant Application

Commission members

• Eunice A. Beatty, Ph.D. – Co-chair
• Kip Cornett – Co-chair
• Lisa Adkins – Blue Grass Community Foundation
• Monica Calleja – Casa de la Cultura de Kentucky
• Markus Cross – Realtor
• Ray Daniels – Equity Solutions Group
• Annissa Franklin – Urban League
• Toa Green – Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream
• Preeti Gupta – Community Volunteer
• Amanda Hale – The Lexington School
• Tom Harris – University of Kentucky
• Christy Hiler – Cornett
• Whit Hiler – Cornett
• Amanda Higgins – Lexington History Museum
• Lisa Higgins-Hord – University of Kentucky
• Heather Lyons – Office of the Mayor
• Christa Marrillia – Keeneland Association
• Everett McCorvey – University of Kentucky Opera
• Megan Moloney – Transylvania University
• Mary Quinn Ramer – VisitLEX
• Brian Sipe – Central Bank Center
• Vice Mayor Dan Wu – City of Lexington
• Nathan Zamarron – LexArts

Troubadour Hometown Concert Series

The all-volunteer, community-run Troubadour Hometown Concert Series is moving to the Kentucky Theater in 2024. 

Mayor’s 250 Lex Commission

• [email protected]

Suggestions or problems with this page?

Thanks for using Nicepng.com

Your download will start automatically.

If your download doesn't start automatically please click here.

Share NicePNG

Remember us: Millions of HD png, unlimited download.

Visit Lex - Visit Lex Logo

Visit Rogers Arkansas Logo - Visit Rogers Logo

The visit cuba guide to spanish in cuba - visit cuba logo, visit jax logo - visit jacksonville logo, superman nemesis lex luthor - lex luthor logo transparent, visitraleigh logo - visit raleigh logo, source - logo visit indonesia 2017, san antonio, texas - visit san antonio logo, home - lex logo, visitseattle logo color 1200 - visit seattle logo, unitedlex - united lex logo png, united lex logo png, visikon exists in the intersection between creative - visit greenville sc logo, arizona office of tourism - visit arizona logo, vf lockup logo final - visit florida, vbr final logo 2018-04 - visit baton rouge, univision logo white, units, departments, schools, administration, centers, - university of florida logo png, caring company logo, visit other toys"r"us - caring company logo png, visit our download center to access each version of - keuka college logo, visitant - arsis visitant, decorative visit word clip art - visit word clipart, lex kids hat - lex fun 4 kids, visit nepal - visit nepal year 2020, teachers visiting card - visiting card, lex luthor - lex luthor perler, armadura justice league unlimited, lex luthor, bruce - lex luthor comic png, lex luthor's galleries - lex luthor comic transparent, lex luthor - lex luthor iron studios, lex luthor - little big planet lex luthor.

A Catholic diocesan hermit in Kentucky comes out as a transgender man

Christian Matson, a Catholic diocesan hermit in Kentucky, came out publicly as transgender this month during the Christian holiday of Pentecost. 

“I was seeing young trans people take their own lives because they felt rejected by their communities, including their religious communities,” Matson said. “I could no longer sit in the safety of being stealth and not raise my voice to say, ‘This is wrong.’”

Matson and one canon lawyer believe he is the first openly trans person in his position in the church.

Based on his appearance and behavior, Matson describes himself as “passing” for a cisgender man, which he considers a privilege. No one knew he was trans unless he told them. While seeking a vocational role in the Catholic Church, he was open about his gender transition with various spiritual directors and religious communities in hopes that they would accept him.

“From a child, I wanted to be a ‘knight for Christ,’ going around doing good,” he said. In his mid-20s, he said, he felt a call to Catholic religious life during a Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. By that point, he had already transitioned four years prior. 

"I had confidence that if I just kept knocking, a door would open somewhere."

Brother christian matson

Matson consulted with a canon lawyer, someone who specializes in Catholic law, and reached out to multiple religious communities for over a decade hoping one would accept him. He said these conversations went one of two ways: They would either immediately say no, or approach a superior, which also resulted in a no. 

“They would say something along the lines of, ‘It’s clear you have a vocation, but our community is just not ready to grapple with the complexity of this situation,’” Matson said. Another reason they gave was a Vatican-issued instruction from 2000 that said trans people could not enter religious life due to “mental instability.”

Matson, 39, said he did not feel this instruction applied to him because he, like many trans people, feels healthier since transitioning. 

“It was difficult to have one’s hopes raised and then shattered over and over for years,” he said. “But I had confidence that if I just kept knocking, a door would open somewhere.”

In 2020, that door was opened by the Rev. John Stowe, the third bishop of the Diocese of Lexington in Kentucky. 

“I felt immense relief and gratitude,” Matson said. It was through the approval of Stowe that Matson was able to profess himself to religious life as a diocesan hermit.

Though rare, diocesan hermits are part of a Catholic vocation that involves a life of solitude under the direction of a spiritual director. Their role is hard to define, because it can vary depending on the diocese, but traditionally, they take a vow of chastity, poverty and obedience. Matson said he writes and prays in the mornings, attends Mass daily and cultivates “an ongoing relationship and ‘being’ with God throughout the day.” To support himself financially, he works at a theater in the afternoon.

The Diocese of Lexington released a statement on May 21 regarding Matson’s public coming out two days before. 

“Brother Christian has long sought to consecrate his life to Christ in the Church by living the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience,” the diocese said. “He does not seek ordination, but has professed a rule of life that allows him to support himself financially by continuing his work in the arts and to live a life of contemplation in a private hermitage. Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., accepted his profession and is grateful to Brother Christian for his witness of discipleship, integrity and contemplative prayer for the Church.”

Daniel Quinan has been a canon lawyer for almost 10 years and publishes research on the intersection of canon law and LGBTQ issues; he said the statement from the diocese was “a bold statement of support for transgender Catholics.” 

He said that it is too soon to know what impact Matson’s coming out will have on the church, but that “success” will be measured in how well the theological and pastoral elements are upheld by the diocese. 

“In my own view, the praiseworthy elements are strong and can be well defended, yet I also recognize the legitimate concerns of those who would disagree for various reasons,” Quinan said. 

Because Catholic law holds no concept of “gender,” Quinan said there are no vocational paths that are off limits for being transgender. However, an important distinction is made in how the church defines “man,” which in Catholic law is strictly tied to assigned biological sex. 

“Matson appears to have found a potential pathway to threading that needle,” Quinan said. “By discerning a rare, individual vocational path that is canonically open to both biological sexes, and simultaneously committed to a radical form of celibacy.” 

Quinan said he is not aware of any other openly trans people who hold a profession in the Catholic Church and suspects Matson is the first. His decision to make his transition public comes at a time when the Catholic Church has been under scrutiny for recent decisions regarding LGBTQ people. 

In April, the Vatican released a 20-page document that declared gender-affirming surgery a violation of human dignity. Pope Francis also sparked controversy in December when he updated Vatican policy to allow for priests to bless same-sex couples, a historic change that received mixed responses from inside the church. 

Since coming out, Matson said he has received strong negative reactions online and especially on the social media platform X. But the people closest to him, most of whom didn’t know he was trans, have all reached out in support. 

Many of the negative responses have framed Matson as opposing the church or trying to infiltrate it with his “agenda,” but he said these claims are false.

“My only agenda is the Gospel,” Matson said. “I believe, both from my own experience and from the scientific evidence, that it is possible for a person to have an innate gender identity that does not match their other markers of sex.”

He added: “This is not a question of ideology. It is a simple disagreement as to what the facts are about the complexity of the human person.”

For more from NBC Out, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Katrina Lambert is a graphic production assistant for "Ana Cabrera Reports."

Calendar of Events

Top 13 things to do, plant-friendly, diversity, equity & inclusion, new restaurants, convention center, request for proposal, about lexington, ky, see more in: about, welcome to lexington.

We love it here! We know you will too. 

Getting here

Within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the population of the United States, Lexington is strategically located at the intersection of interstates 64 and 75 in Fayette County, Kentucky. (See map. ) Lexington is accessible by air with non-stop flights to 17 destinations and connecting service to hundreds of destinations worldwide. Nestled among world-famous Thoroughbred horse farms, Blue Grass Airport (LEX) welcomes travelers with one of the most beautiful air approaches in the nation.

Getting Around

The city is set up like a wheel with spokes, with main arterial roads running from downtown out into horse country. Major car rental companies have desks at the airport and branches around town. Public bus service is provided by LexTran . Visitors also have access to taxi companies, Uber and Lyft. If you don't have a car, a great way to see horse country is with a van tour company. Click here for more about transportation options.

See this link for a street map of the central downtown district in PDF format .

Visitor Information

While in the Horse Capital of the World, stop by our downtown Visitors Center, 215 West Main Street, in Lexington's historic former County Courthouse. We are open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Sundays. This is a great place to get to know Lexington—you can speak with a Visitor Information Specialist, browse informative brochures and maps, learn about the Bluegrass Region on interactive screens, send a digital postcard, and sniff some bourbon.

International Visitors

Do you need a visa? Thirty-six countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), but citizens of those countries must receive approval for travel via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel to the United States. This link provides detailed information about ESTA. If you are a citizen of a country that does not participate in the Visa Waiver Program, you will need a visa. Click here for detailed information about obtaining a visa provided by the U.S. Department of State.

A Brief History of Lexington

When European settlers arrived on the scene, the Bluegrass region was in use as a hunting ground by numerous Native American tribes. Daniel Boone was one of the first Anglo-Saxons to explore the area. He helped establish Kentucky's first forts in Harrodsburg and Boonesborough.

Lexington was founded in 1775, seventeen years before Kentucky became a state. William McConnell and a group of frontier explorers were camped at a natural spring when word came from nearby Fort Boonesborough that the first battle of the American Revolution had been fought in Lexington, Massachusetts. In honor of the battle, the group named their site Lexington—and the name stuck. By 1820, this was one of the largest and wealthiest towns west of the Allegheny Mountains. So cultured was its lifestyle that our city soon gained the nickname “the Athens of the West.”

Check out the Lexington History Timeline . 

Fayette County consists of 283 square miles of gently rolling plateau in the center of the inner Bluegrass Region. The area is noted for its beauty, fertile soil, excellent pastureland, and horse and stock farms. Poa Pratensis (bluegrass) thrives on the limestone beneath the soil's surface, playing a major role in the area's scenic beauty and in the development of champion horses. Numerous small creeks rise and flow into the Kentucky River.

The U.S. Census estimate for Lexington-Fayette County is 321,951 (2018). The estimated population of the metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which is comprised of Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Madison, Scott, and Woodford counties, is 512,650 (2017).

Places of Worship

There are over 230 churches and synagogues in Lexington, representing 38 denominations as well as mosques and a Hindu temple. Call the Lexington Visitors Center if you'd like to locate a specific house of worship.

Read our Religious History in Lexington Guide for more information. 

Liquor Laws 

Minimum drinking age is 21. Alcoholic beverages may be sold in licensed bars and restaurants from 6 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. Sunday to 2:30 a.m. Monday. Package stores may open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Smoking is not allowed inside public buildings, including restaurants.

November to March: Eastern Standard Time March to November: Eastern Daylight Savings Time

Climate/Seasonal Planning

The mean average temperature in Lexington is 54.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Annual precipitation is 45.68 inches. Lexington and the Bluegrass Region have four distinct seasons that include cool plateau breezes, moderate nights in the summer, and no prolonged periods of heat, cold, rain, wind, or snow.

Average minimum and maximum temperatures:

Spring: 34-74 degrees F

Summer: 61-86 degrees F

Fall: 36-79 degrees F

Winter: 23-54 degrees F

Lexington's crime consistently ranks below the national average. In addition to foot and car patrols, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Department operates two highly visible units that have proven to be effective crime deterrents. The Lexington Mounted Police Unit and Mountain Bike Unit patrol the downtown area on horseback and bicycles to help assure community safety.

Newspaper The Lexington Herald-Leader is our daily morning newspaper.

Commercial television stations: WLEX-TV (Channel 18-NBC affiliate) (859) 259-1818 WKYT-TV (Channel 27-CBS affiliate) (859) 299-0411 WTVQ-TV (Channel 36-ABC affiliate) (859) 294-3636 WDKY-TV (Channel 56-FOX affiliate) (859) 269-5656

Public television (PBS affiliate): KET (Channel 46-Kentucky Educational Television) (859)258-7000

Local Radio El Pulso 95.7FM (859) 721-5688 WLAP AM 630 (859) 422-1000 WUKY FM 91.3 (859) 257-3221 WVLK  AM 590 (859) 253-5900 WLXU 93.9FM (859) 721-5688

Corporations/Industry in Lexington

Traditional products of the area include horses, bourbon, tobacco and handcrafts, but an increasing diversity of products and services contributes to a healthy economy. Major employers in the Lexington area include:

University of Kentucky Toyota Motor Manufacturing Amazon.com Conduent Lexmark International Inc. Lockheed Martin UPS Link-Belt Construction Valvoline Galls LLC Big Ass Fans Tempur Sealy International

The National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers of State Governments, the National Tour Association and the Association of Retail Travel Agents are national organizations that are headquartered in Lexington. Also, The National Horse Center at the Kentucky Horse Park is the national headquarters for more than 30 equine associations.

Universities/Colleges in Lexington and the Region 

Asbury University Asbury Theological Seminary Berea College Bluegrass Community and Technical College Centre College Eastern Kentucky University Georgetown College Kentucky State University Lexington Theological Seminary National College of Business and Technology Midway College Spencerian College Sullivan University Transylvania University University of Kentucky

Sales and Hotel Taxes 

Kentucky state sales tax is 6%. Groceries are exempt. There is a hotel tax of 8.5% and a state fee of 1%, bringing the total tax on hotel rooms to 16.07%.

Lexington is Known For...

Creative culture, restaurants, free visitors guide.

Request a printed copy of our Visitors Guide and learn more about everything the Horse Capital of the World has to offer.

Let's get social

• About VisitLEX
• Privacy Policy
• LEX for Good

Lexington Visitors Center 215 W Main St, Suite 75 Lexington, KY 40507 (800) 845-3959  | (859) 233-7299

Additional Contact Information

© 2024 VisitLEX

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. By using our site, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use.