A new holiday tradition is starting in Bowling Green with week-long celebrations and lighting events.
Light Up BGKY is a collaborative project with the City of Bowling Green and community partners to host 15 holiday and lighting events from Nov. 27 to Dec. 3.
This inaugural event was kicked off on Nov. 27 at 4 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Bowling Green officials and President Timothy Caboni on the steps of Cherry Hall.
“The city of Bowling Green with the help of WKU and our county and city officials are celebrating the Christmas season by ringing in the holidays with Light Up Bowling Green,” Todd Matthews, chair of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, said.
Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott announced the series of events to be hosted throughout the week and gave a special thanks to Downtown Development Coordinator Telia Butler for her contributions to the event.
The schedule of events are as follows:
Monday, Nov. 27:
Kickoff Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Time/Location: 4 p.m., WKU’s Cherry Hall, 1906 College Heights Blvd.
Tuesday, Nov. 28:
Med Center Health’s Make the Season Bright
Time/Location: 6 p.m., Hospitality House, 501 High Street
Wednesday, Nov. 29:
Christmas Marketplace at Riverview at Hobson Grove Historic House Museum
Time/Location: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hobson Grove Historic House Museum, 1100 W Main Ave
Movies at the Capitol: It’s a Wonderful Toy Drive.
Time/Location: 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., The Capitol, 416 E Main Ave
Thursday, Nov. 30:
Light Up the Depot at the Historic RailPark
Time/Location: 4 p.m., Historic RailPark & Train Museum, 401 Kentucky Street
Storytime in the Snow Dome at SoKY Ice Rink with Warren County Public Library.
Location: SoKY Ice Rink, 636 Center Street
Friday, Dec. 1:
Christmas on College Street at City Hall:
Time/Location: 3:30-5 p.m., 1001 College Street
Warren County Courthouse Open House
Time/Location 2-4 p.m., 429 E 10th Ave.
Storytime Meet and Greet with The Grinch at The Capitol Theatre
TIme/Location: 4-6 p.m., 416 E. Main Ave.
Downtown BGKY Lights Up
Time/Location: 5-8 p.m., Fountain and Circus Squares, SoKY Ice Rink, and SKyPAC
Reindeer Farm
Time/Location: 9a.m.-5 p.m., 2541 Old Union Church Road
Saturday, Dec. 2:
BG/WC Jaycees Christmas Parade
Time/Location: 9:30 a.m., Downtown Bowling Green on College and State Streets
Christmas in Kentucky at the Kentucky Museum
Time/Location: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 1444 Kentucky Street
Lost River Sessions Presents A Bluegrass Holiday at The Capitol
Time/Location: 6:30 p.m., 416 E Main Ave
Mistletoe Market at SoKY Marketplace’s Historic Venue on 7th
Location: 636 Center Street
Reindeer Farm with live ice sculpting
Time/Location: 9-5 p.m., 2541 Old Union Church Road
Sunday, Dec. 3:
Historic Holiday Tour: Christmas on College Hill
Time: 1-5 p.m.
SoKY Ice Rink
Location: 636 Center Street
Reindeer Farm with live ice sculpting
Time/Location: 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., 2541 Old Union Church Road
Before the ribbon-cutting to mark the start of these events, Caboni gave his remarks about the new tradition, saying he hopes these types of events will contribute to improving quality of life in Bowling Green.
“When I returned to WKU in 2017 as president, one of my commitments was a renewed institutional focus on improving our area’s quality of life,” Caboni said. “What better illustration than through this new partnership with the city and organizations across our community to share not just the holiday spirit, but here on our hill, the WKU spirit.”
To learn more about Light Up BGKY and to view the schedule of events visit https://lightupbgky.org/.
