Bowling Green Gears Up for Annual Downtown Harvest Festival

Bowling Green Prepares for the Annual Downtown Harvest Festival

Bowling Green is buzzing with excitement as it gears up for the Downtown BGKY Harvest Festival happening on October 19, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This beloved local event marks its sixth year, offering residents and visitors a day filled with fun, food, and crafts.

A Day Full of Activities

This year’s Harvest Festival is expected to be bigger and better than ever, featuring over 300 craft vendors, more than 40 food vendors, and plenty of live music performances. According to Telia Butler, the downtown development coordinator, the festival has expanded significantly. “It has grown tremendously year after year,” Butler stated. “I’m excited that people want to be a part of it and that they are as excited as we are.”

The event promises a variety of activities suitable for families and attendees of all ages. Circus Square will continue to host some of the festival’s favorite attractions, including the always-popular pumpkin drop, along with family-friendly activities such as carnival games, inflatables, and arts and crafts vendors. New this year, kids can enjoy a robotics activity sponsored by the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative and the Corvette Museum.

Exciting New Features

With the farmers market season coming to a close, Croptoberfest will turn the SoKY Marketplace into a lively hub filled with live music, craft vendors, and food trucks throughout the day. Butler mentioned that “there will be even more food trucks, craft vendors, and a live art demonstration where kids can get creative and paint on a mural.”

Heritage Trail, which links Circus Square to Fountain Square, will transform into Candy Corn Lane, featuring various vendors in the parking lots along the route. This year, the festival also includes a celebration of Dia de Los Muertos at Fountain Square Park, where local organizations will host live entertainment and Spanish food trucks, enhancing the festival’s communal feel.

A Focus on Community Engagement

In an effort to reconnect with the community, Bowling Green’s SKyPAC will also host a fall-themed Community Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. This event will offer activities such as storytime sessions, an instrument petting zoo, arts and crafts, family photo booths, and even a costume contest. Dillon Godolphin, education director for the Arts of Southern Kentucky, said: “We have launched this new Community Day as an opportunity for the entire region to witness what we do here at SKyPAC.”

Visitors can look forward to sneak peeks of upcoming performances, including Orchestra KY’s show titled “Magical Music: Harry Potter and More” that evening at 7:30 p.m. Backstage tours will offer unique insight into the venue, making the arts more accessible to the community.

Additional Evening Activities

As the day winds down, there are still plenty of options for evening entertainment, such as “Blockbuster at the Ballpark” featuring the movie “Twister” and the Sky Arts Film Festival at The Capitol. The Bowling Green Rock Band Academy Fall Fest is also scheduled at Tidball’s from noon to 5 p.m.

Festival Logistics

The festival aims to provide a seamless experience with a Bowling Green Trolley loop that will allow guests to hop on and off at various locations. A parking map will be accessible, and volunteers will be stationed to assist with information and parking needs. Best of all, admission to the festival is free!

Whether you’re a local resident or visiting Bowling Green for the first time, the Downtown BGKY Harvest Festival is undoubtedly a celebration of community and creativity, welcoming everyone to enjoy the spirit of the season.

For more information about the festival, visit the community website or check the Downtown BGKY Facebook page.