Things to Do in Nicholasville

The Midwest Mayhem auto show hosts a colorful collective of roadsters from across the state, sporting tricked-out doors, iridescent rims, and detailed custom paint jobs. Cars bound into the air during the hydraulics contest and dip under the pole for a mini-truck limbo contest. Guests also test their manmade skills at pizza-eating contests and the chocolate-milk chug. Live bands and DJs pump the airwaves full of sound, and judges select the winners from a number of categories, such as best lowrider, best engine, and tastiest hubcap.

Established 32 years ago, Sandy's Sewing Center shines in its field as Lexington's only licensed dealer of Husqvarna Viking sewing machines. Those who bought their Husqvarna machines from Sandy's can sign up for machine-owner's classes free of charge, and owners of any machine can bring it in for repairs whenever necessary. Though patterns, materials, needles, and thread line the shelves in abundance, the center's greatest contributions to craft come in the form of classes and camps for students age 9 and older. Always on the leading needlepoint of embroidery, Sandy's offers accessible intros to Husqvarna's 5-D and 4-D design software, which allow stitchers to preview a design, swap colors out at will, make a pattern of their own, or convert their Home on the Range placard into a MIDI file.

The Blue Grass Sportsmen's League is not just concerned with entertaining its members with various outdoor sporting activities; the nonprofit organization also dedicates itself to conservation, hunter education, and habitat restoration. At the expansive facility—which is tucked into the Jessamine County woods and bordered on three sides by the river—three separate ranges help hunters improve their accuracy before they participate in carefully managed hunting for deer, pheasant, and wild bull's-eyes. A spring-fed fishing lake with species limits is stocked with bluegill, catfish, and bass, and a dog-training field safely prepares canines for upcoming trips. Blue Grass Sportsmen's League also invites guests to practice tactical maneuvers and re-create Jackson Pollock's Autumn Rhythm on its two paintball fields.