Travel

Historic Midway was the fi rst town in Kentucky founded by a railroad. Nearly 200 years later, Midway is a uniquely friendly town with a spirit all its own. Studded with local shops, restaurants, cafés and businesses bearing beautiful, quaint architecture, the streets of Midway offer visitors an exceptional experience in the heart of horse country. A short, scenic drive leads to world-class dining and shopping with boundless charm. Visitors always leave Midway with high spirts – and plans to come back again soon.

BREAKFAST: Black Type Co. for coffee and The Midway Bakery for breakfast MORNING: Horse Farm Visit at Airdrie Stud

BEFORE LUNCH: Downtown Shopping Adventure • Southern Sunday • Midway Boutique • Commotion! • Gigi & George • Freedmans Harness • The Back Room

LUNCH: Gibson's, Goose and Gander, or The Brown Barrel QUICK DESSERT: Railroad Drug or Spotz Gelato AFTERNOON: Distillery Tour at Bluegrass Distillers (coming soon!) or a trip to Equus Run Vineyards DINNER: Heirloom (Chef Mark Wombles) or Holly Hill Inn (Chef Ouita Michel) EVENING: Sunset drive in horse country

A DAY IN MIDWAY ITINERARY

STILL HAVE MORE TIME? EXPLORE: • Walter Bradley Park • Weisenberger Mill • Midway/Versailles 28 Mile Bike Loop

FALL IN LOVE WITH LOCAL MIDWAY MERCHANTS

MIDWAY BOUTIQUE Women’s clothing boutique Midway Boutique has apparel to span the generations, accessories from head to toe, equine and UK gift items, and more.

COMMOTION! Consignment riding apparel Recently expanded to two floors, you’ll find signature women’s riding apparel at a competitive price downstairs, with some of the Commonwealth’s best gifts & homewares upstairs!

SOUTHERN SUNDAY Women’s clothing boutique Find affordable, fashionable clothing at the online store that donates a portion of every sale to charity. If you see him, say hi to Sprout, the unofficial store mascot!

GIGI AND GEORGE Lifestyle store gigi &george is a curious mix of old and new. What that means that we offer the finest selection of antiques mixed with new accessories. We are not just a home goods store, but a lifestyle store.

FREEDMAN HARNESS SADDLE INC Leather goods Freedman's crafts saddlery & harness for show horses as well as luxury leather bags and accessories.

THE BLACK TYPE CO. Coffee, wine, bourbon bar Discover this newly-opened coffee & wine bar. Take home some of Kentucky’s finest bourbons, crowd-pleaser wines, and cocktail-themed gifts. Keep an eye peeled for exciting developments from this rapidly growing local favorite!

GIBSON'S RESTURANT & BAR Join us for a fantastic selection of southern cuisines and bourbons in the heart of horse country. HEIRLOOM Award-Winning Gourmet Dining Cozy, modern restaurant for French-inspired fine dining, with a large wine list & outdoor seating.

HOLLY HILL INN Award-Winning Gourmet Dining | Part of Chef Ouita Michel’s family of restaurants Wine flights, wine pairings & refined American cuisine featured in a rural inn from the 1800's.

WALLACE STATION DELI AND BAKERY Part of Chef Ouita Michel’s family of restaurants Homey pit stop doling out sandwiches, hamburgers (including the famous Big Brown) & other eats.

THE BROWN BARREL/BLIND HARRY'S This cozy casual setting includes a wide variety of traditional options like fresh seafood and high-quality steaks, while also offering creative cutting-edge dishes and daily specials. Working up an appetite? Check out Blind Harry’s for a full-service bar with a signature Kentucky flare. Before leaving, be sure to snag a bottle of your favorite Kentucky bourbon in our store selection

THE BACK ROOM Home decor & accessories Come purchase gifts, register for your wedding or baby showers, or spruce up your own home! Items include Juliska and Vietri dinnerware, Wildwood lamps, Jonathan Charles furniture, Company C rugs and more.

RAILROAD DRUG & OLD TIME SODA FOUNTAIN This is a must-see during your tour! Be sure to stop at this iconic space for an old-time soda fountain offering a variety of sweet treats, along with a small retail section.

CRITTENDEN’S Menswear Classic Menswear based In Lexington and Midway Kentucky. We specialize in sport coats, trousers and suits in fine luxury fabrics.

HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW?

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that premier Midway's men’s clothier, Crittenden Rawlings, outfitted numerous United States Presidents for inaugurations?

SAVE THE DATE UPCOMING EVENTS

MIDWAY BLOCK PARTY Saturday, May 28: 7PM Meet Me In Midway on Saturday, May 28th for our Summer Kick-Off Block Party!! We'll have live music provided by Bent Penny Band, food, and fun for the entire family!

FRANCISCO’S FARM ART FAIR June 11-12, 2022 The Midway Renaissance named the event for Colonel John Francisco, the original owner of the property on which the city of Midway now stands. This mix of art, food, music and community is a fun family-friendly event you won't want to miss!

MIDWAY MUSIC FESTIVAL: OFF THE RAILS Saturday, July 23: 10 AM - 10 PM Join us in downtown Midway for a full day of fun at the second Midway Music Festival! We'll have an eclectic mix of music for you to enjoy all day, plus food, drinks, vendors and local merchants! Mark your calendar now!

48TH ANNUAL MIDWAY FALL FESTIVAL Saturday, September 17: 10AM – 10PM & Sunday, September 18: 10AM – 5PM There will be a multitude of talented Arts & Crafts vendors, sorghum & pottery demonstrations, and delicious food vendors. Also live music, entertainment, children’s activities and loads of FUN!

DID YOU KNOW?

Midway's small-town charm sure is romantic... at least according to the people at The Hallmark Channel! Our quaint, iconic streets were featured in their movie, Midway to Love, which was filmed here and released in 2019!

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, students ho do not read pro cientl b third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school. Si t e percent o ourth raders read belo grade level contributing to 8,000 students dropping out of high school every day.

With declining literacy statistics and school dropouts increasing at alarming rates... it is clear to Hank that something needs to be done!

Hank the Horse regularly visits schools and libraries throughout Kentucky to promote literacy excellence and encourage kids to read more while having fun doing so. Through our Pages for a Purpose Literacy Excellence Program, we empower kids of all ages to achieve literacy excellence through horses and equine related learning activities. Our reading programs and rescued horses inspire children to discover their passion for reading. For Hank’s Sake is opening a world of reading to children in need of hope for a better future.

With Hank’s visits to schools and libraries, children are given the opportunity to experience the joy of meeting a horse in real life. Hank is stepping up the pace to get more books into the hands and minds of children everywhere. Pages for a Purpose is a program that aims to increase literacy and build self-esteem in children of all ages. Through increased literacy rates we can see students excel in confidence, educational achievement, and have greater success in life. We have created pathways through creative, engaging and effective equine assisted learning activities for children. Hank is on a mission to continue giving children a brighter future through his interactive and fun reading programs.

Hank wants to help!

Know a school, library or organization who could use a helping hoof? Contact Hank by visiting his event page to inquire about a visit: forhankssake.org/hankhappenings For more information about Hank’s Pages for a Purpose Program, please visit: forhankssake.org/pages-for-a-purpose