LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – It has been a busy few weeks in the Bluegrass with multiple events happening around Lexington. From fall meet at Keeneland, UK football games and Big Blue Madness, Scarefest and the Thriller Parade, there has been something for everyone almost every week. With all of these events come many tourists. Martina Barksdale with VisitLEX says October is always a huge month for tourism. “So just alone in October, we’re seeing hundreds of thousands of visitors and that economic impact is in the millions,” said Barksdale. Barksdale says in 2023, Fayette County saw a record-breaking impact of $1.6 billion and it is already on track to break that record this year. And with the record breaking impact Lexington is also seeing economic development. “We’re seeing more hotels being built. We are also seeing everything from the Lexington Sporting Club, so a lot more venues and a lot more renovation. The more people that are coming and visiting and spending their dollars here helps us increase economic development for the city.” Barksdale says the impact affects not only the city of Lexington. “It impacts all of us, especially our small business owners and our locally owned businesses. When people are coming here not only are they putting their heads in beds and staying in our Airbnb’s, but they’re also frequenting our restaurants, our retail. Visiting our distilleries, our museums, going to see music.” She says that while the city may be geared toward visitors, it is the locals that make the city worth being in. Categories: Featured, Local News, News Tags: Big Blue Madness, Bluegrass, Economic Development, Economic Impact, Keeneland, Lexington, Martina Barksdale, Tourism, UK football games, VisitLex