
For the inaugural Smiley Pete's Best of Lex issue (April 2024), we compiled more than 260,000 votes from our readers in 8 different category groups, to highlight the best local businesses, organizations, artists and more. Click here for links to all categories!

The “Abraham Lincoln” mural by artist Eduardo Kobra was voted “Best Mural” by our readers. Photo furnished
Lexington is blessed with an incredible array of citizens, organizations and businesses who create, facilitate and support the world class art, performance and other cultural offerings that enrich the lives of all who live in or visit our city.
From music, theater, literary and visual art, to comedy, festivals, galleries and dance, we are lucky to live in a place rich with art and culture.
In this section, we celebrate those in Lexington who have dedicated their lives to create a community brimming with culture that we all can enjoy. Our readers have voted on their favorite artists, galleries, festivals and other cultural contributions.
Best Art Gallery
1. LexArts Gallery at ArtsPlace
2. Lexington Art League - Loudoun House
3. Institute 193
Honorable mentions:
• Artists’ Attic Studio & Gallery
• Willis Art Gallery
• New Editions Gallery
Best Art Museum
1. University of Kentucky Art Museum
2. 21c Lexington Museum Hotel
3. Living Arts & Science Center
4. The Headley-Whitney Museum

The annual Thriller Parade was voted as Lexington's "Best City Run Event." File photo
Best City-Run Event
1. Thriller Parade
2. 4th of July Festival & Parade
3. Lexington Roots & Heritage Festival
Best Dance School
1. Arthur Murray Dance Studio
2. Lexington Ballet
3. BurLEX Burlesque Collective
Honorable mentions:
• Mecca Live Studio & Gallery
• Sora Aerial Arts
• Blackbird Dance Theatre
• The Salsa Center Dance Studio

Muralist Wylie Caudill was voted by our readers as “Best Artist” in Lexington. Photo by Emily Giancarlo
Best Artist (Visual Arts)
1. Wylie Caudill
2. Arturo Sandoval
3. Kiptoo Taurus
Honorable mentions:
• Kayla Weber
• John Lackey

The Local Honeys were voted by our readers as Lexington’s “Best Band.” Photo furnished
Best Band
1. The Local Honeys
2. Joslyn & the Sweet Compression
3. Vinyl Ritchie
Honorable mentions:
• No Rulez Band
• Dead Air Dennis & Bryan Himes
• Magnolia Boulevard
• Rags & Riches
Best Classical Music Organization
1. Lexington Singers
2. Lexington Chamber Orchestra
3. Big Band & Jazz Series
Best Arts Festival
1. Woodland Arts Fair
2. Kentucky Crafted
3. PlayThink Festival
Best Festival (General)
1. Railbird
2. Lexington PRIDE Festival
3. CRAVE food + music festival
4. Bluegrass BBQ Festival
Best Comedian
1. Becca Sanders
2. Larry Starks
3. Joe Deuce
4. DD Rainbow
Best Mural
1. “Abraham Lincoln” by Eduardo Kobra
2. “John Prine” by SquarePegs Design Studio
3. “Horse on High Knoll” by Wylie Caudill
Honorable mentions:
• “Louis Armstrong” by Odeith
• “Sweet Evening Breeze” by GAIA

Ode to PRHBTN
Smiley Pete Staff Salute
After more than a decade of facilitating some of the most ambitious and boundary-pushing public art in Lexington, the organization PRHBTN officially hung up the mural production arm of its operations in 2022 — but not without leaving an indelible mark on our city.
Part public art enterprise, part street art festival, the organization started in 2011 as a labor of love and a desire to deck the public walls of Lexington with large-scale murals from internationally recognized street artists. The organization was fueled by the passion of local couple John and Jessica Winters, who helped commission work from more than 35 notable muralists from all over the world to create beautiful, distinct, thought-provoking and sometimes polarizing art on notable exterior walls on the streets of our town. Whatever your favorite mural in Lexington might be, there’s a high likelihood that it would not be there if not for PRHBTN.
From fundraising to scouting for walls and coordinating between international artists, local businesses and building owners, the project required monumental efforts on behalf of the organizers, who said early on that they would continue to help facilitate murals until they ran out of walls or until it was no fun any more.
Though that time came, most of the murals remain, and the groundwork has been laid for the continued proliferation of public art in Lexington — and that’s something we can all be grateful to PRHBTN for.
Best Musician
1. Ben Lacy
2. Tee Dee Young
3. Devine Carama
4. Abby Hamilton

Centered in the roundabout at the crossings of Old Frankfort Pike and Alexandra Drive, The Secretariat statue by Jocelyn Russell was voted by our readers as "Best Statue." Photo furnished
Best Sculpture
1. Secretariat Statue by Jocelyn Russell
2. Flight 5191 Memorial by Douwe Blumberg
3. Maji Mazuri by Kiptoo Taurus
Best Tour
1. Bites of the Bluegrass
2. Keeneland Racetrack
3. Aviation Museum of Kentucky

Silas House was voted by our readers as Lexington’s “Best Writer.” Photo by Bradley Quinn
Best Writer
1. Silas House
2. Crystal Wilkinson
3. Frank X Walker
Honorable mentions:
• Bobbie Ann Mason
• Ada Limón
Best Movie Theater
1. The Kentucky Theatre
2. LexLive
3. Movie Tavern Brannon Crossing

Photo by Emily Giancarlo
Ode to The Kentucky Theatre
By Silas House, Voted as a “Best Writer”
I am so thankful that we have the Kentucky Theatre. Not only is it a beautiful, welcoming space for everyone, but they also go above and beyond on providing entertainment for the whole region. I’m amazed by all they are able to do. This past year, they started the Twelve Lions Film Festival, which brought in filmmakers from around the world. They show the latest in independent, foreign, and art cinema as well as blockbusters and classics. They have grand special events.
Very few cities have a cinema like The Kentucky and honestly, it’s one of the reasons I love living in Lexington. It’s more than a place to go see films, it’s a community center where I feel at home and where I am always exposed to great art. I’m grateful to Lisa Meek, Hayward Wilkirson, Fred Mills, and the whole staff.
Best Performing Arts Venue
1. Lexington Opera House
2. Singletary Center
3. Lyric Theatre
Best Theatre Company
1. The Lexington Theatre Company
2. Studio Players
3. ActOut Theatre Group