CITY OF LONDON
NEW FACES , NEW SPACES FOR LONDON
BY NITA JOHNSON | Staff Writer
The arrival of 2023 brought many changes for the City of London , including a new mayor and 4 new city council members .
London continues to grow in population and events that bring in tourists from across the nation . The Redbud Ride is an extremely popular event each April , drawing cyclists from numerous states for a ride through London and the rural areas in Laurel and Rockcastle counties each year .
The Farmers Market and London Community Center host a variety of events year round , from the bi-weekly Kentucky Proud products at Farmers Market during the summer and fall months to the Redbud Ride and HoneyBun Day / Cider Night events in spring and fall .
The London Community Center provides a meeting place for businesses and organizations as well as hosting special events from weddings to craft shows .
Musical events also highlight London ' s attractions . The Town Center concert series from May through September offers local groups as well as nationally recognized musicians and bands . London is the only city between Lexington and Knoxville to host a community orchestra , which performs four concerts each year .
London ' s Main Street program excels with drawing customers to London ' s downtown businesses - which continue to grow each year .
Julie Rea , CEO of London Downtown , said the response for London Downtown programs had been extremely popular .
" Our annual Redbud Ride kicked off the year to an exciting start . The cold , snowy weather didn ' t deter approximately 350 cyclists . The riders got to experience all four seasons during the ride ," she said . " Riders and volunteers were touched by the stories of kindness and generosity of our community members who opened their homes to the
The Times-Tribune • Community Guide 2023 — Page 29