The arts outdoors are always fun and summer is a great time to enjoy them.

Whether you have been enjoying wandering through downtown’s  “I Was There” installation, or “Rocked the Block” at the courthouse as a prelude to the Beer Cheese Festival get outdoors and enjoy the arts. Here are a some outdoor eves you might enjoy in the coming weeks.

LexArts, for the eighth year, is sponsoring Paint the Town a plein-air painting and exhibiting event on Saturday, June 29. Plein-air means outdoor.

The event is a day for artists to get outdoors to draw and paint in downtown Lexington. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., artists take their oils, acrylics, charcoal and watercolors into the downtown area to produce a work of art.

From 2 to 5 p.m., an exhibit is hung at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center. The Lexington 2019 Paint the Town Exhibition and Reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information about registering as an artist or attending the reception visit https://www.artconnectslex.org/call-to-artists.html

This event is a fundraiser for LexArts and it does cost money to register as an artist, attend the exhibition and reception, and purchase finished art.

The Appalachian Shakespeare Center, Lexington and Richmond

Eastern Kentucky University’s recently founded Appalachian Shakespeare Center (ASC) will be presenting “Much Ado About Nothing” beginning June 27 -30; July 11-14 in Woodland Park, Lexington and later at the Ravine on Eastern’s campus on Friday and Saturda,y July 19-20, 26-27. Admission to both productions is free. For more information about the Appalachian Shakespeare Center visit https://www.ekutheatre.com

Hardin County Playhouse, Elizabethtown

Hardin County Playhouse will present “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as part of the local Shakespeare in the Park Festival. The festival, held at Radcliff City Park, June 22-23, runs from 3 to 9 p.m., with play starting at 7 p.m. Come out for vendors, food trucks, entertainment and Shakespeare. Admission to the festival is $5, which includes admission to the play. More information at www.hardincountyplayhouse.com/

Kincaid Regional Theatre, Falmouth

Kincaid Regional Theatre in Falmouth will present the musical “Li’l Abner,” based on the long running comic strip, at Griffin Center Amphitheater, Pendleton County Fairgrounds, June 21 through July 12. Tickets available online at www.krtshows.com or by calling 859-654-2636.

Pioneer Playhouse, Danville

Pioneer Playhouse is Kentucky’s state summer stock theater. Under the direction of artistic director Robby Henson, the theater will produce five summer shows running into August. First up is “Kong’s Night Out” by Jack Neary which runs through June 22. It  is followed by “Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders”  by Jeffrey Hatcher, based on the novel by Larry Millett. For more information and tickets call 859-236-3646 or visit pioneerplayhouse.com

Shakespeare in the Park, Louisville

Throughout the summer, a variety of Shakespeare’s classics is produced in Central Park in Louisville. The 8 p.m. shows are free, and there are a number of food trucks set up behind the amphitheater.

This year’s plays include “As You Like It,” “Henry IV Part II” and the “Tragedy of King Lear” plus performances by The Kentucky Shakespeare Globe Players High School Theatre Training Program, Cincinnati Shakespeare, and Louisville Ballet. Visit kyshakespeare.com/season/shakespeare-festival-in-central-park/ for specific dates and details.

Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, Jenkins

The season started June 15 and runs on Saturday nights through the end of August. Gates open at 7 p.m., pre-show at 7:15, followed by the show at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 adults, $5 students, children 12 and under free. For more, call 606-832-1453 and ask for Don Amburgey.  Visit www.littleshepherddrama.com for more about this play based on Paris, Kentucky’s John Fox’s novel of the same name.

Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour, Lexington

The Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour, featuring Lexington folksong singer and host Michael Jonathan is performed live nearly every Monday evening (44 times a year) at the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center in Lexington.

Guests have included Jewel, Bela Fleck, Tommy Emmanuel, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. For more information about guests and live recording dates visit: http://www.woodsongs.com/radioprogramdirectorinformation

Call 859-280-2218 after 1 p.m, to purchase a ticket. Tickets are usually available at the door the night of the broadcast.

Shows begin at 7 p.m. however audience members must be seated by 6:45 p.m., so arrive early. Tickets for the general public are typically $10 and $5 for students and children under 16; children younger than 3 who will sit on another person’s lap are free.

Bill McCann is a playwright, poet, flash fiction writer, and teacher who writes about arts events and personalities. Reach him at wmccann273@gmail.com.