Winter Holidays

Bowling Green is bustling each year for the holidays and the first weekend in December is once again PACKED with family fun in 2011!  Take a look at more holiday events by clicking on the 2011 Holiday Events page on the left or download our Holiday Events Flyer here (updated 12/1).

On Friday, December 2, head to beautiful downtown Fountain Square Park to admire the winter wonderland it becomes with thousands of twinkling lights.  A Holiday Market will take place all weekend while the Bowling Green Gallery Hop bounces visitors around the area on Friday evening.  Be sure to take a downtown carriage ride, available each night through Dec. 31, or head over to the historic Riverview at Hobson Grove for a Candlelight Tour.

On Saturday, December 3, catch the annual BG Jaycees Christmas Parade through downtown Bowling Green at 9:30 a.m. Then get into the holiday spirit at the Kentucky Museum’s Christmas in Kentucky event. Sample gingerbread in the Felts Log Cabin, have your photo made with Santa, make Christmas ornaments and much more at this free event.   

Next, venture down Highway 68/80 to nearby South Union where you can select some unique Kentucky crafted gifts at the Christmas at Shakertown Holiday Market. A canned good is all you need for admittance to this great holiday tradition.

Finish up your afternoon of shopping by browsing Kentucky-made products at Chaney’s Dairy Barn, or take a quick drive up the road to Rock Garden Farm for some great arts, crafts and collectibles.

Warm up and rejuvenate at the hotel, then it’s time to travel back to historic downtown and sample European fare at Verdi, Brickyard Cafe or The Bistro.  Evening performances include “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at The Phoenix Theatre, “WinterDance: A Holiday Extravaganza” at WKU’s Van Meter Hall, and “Two From Galilee” at Rich Pond Baptist Church.

Enjoy a leisurely Sunday morning on December 4 with breakfast at the hotel, then its off to Flealand or the Broadway Bargain District for some great holiday deals.  Next dash across town to the Historic Railpark & Train Museum at the L&N Depot for their annual Festival of Trains. See the region’s largest model train display, climb aboard restored railcars, and tour the interactive two-story museum.

Other popular Holiday Events include:

(Click on the title to view the Calendar of Events listing with more details.) 
Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the National Corvette Museum
Downtown Lights up at Fountain Square Park
Breakfast with Santa at Chaney’s Dairy Barn
The Polar Express Readings at the Historic Railpark
Landmark Association Christmas Tour of Homes
Houchens Center Trees of Christmas
Special Holiday Performances by Orchestra Kentucky, The Symphony at WKU, Fountain Square Players, and The Public Theatre of Kentucky.

Other Great Holiday Fun with the Family

These activities are perfect for a wintry day!

• Turn the Holiday Tree Displays at the Kentucky Museum and the Houchens Center into a scavenger hunt and get the kids searching for specific items, certain colors, special ornaments, and other holiday clues!
• Did you know caves stay the same temperature year-round? Take an underground boat ride in Lost River Cave and enjoy the mild 55˚ climate!
• The National Corvette Museum is open 7 days a week, 8am until 5pm offering exhibits and interactive fun with their NEWLY expanded displays! Of course, don’t miss their HUGE gift shop for that special guy in your life!
• Fountain Square Park becomes a winter wonderland each December… stroll the park on that ‘not-so-blustery’ December evening!
• For pieces of Kentucky history, why not visit the Kentucky Museum with their Decorative Arts gallery, ‘Recommended by Duncan Hines’ and Civil War exhibits?
• If you like Trains, then you won’t want to miss the Historic Railpark & Train Museum. They have a two-story interactive museum, and out back you can climb aboard real railcars!
• Oh, and how could we omit SHOPPING! Bowling Green has tons of unique, locally owned shops, two flea markets, a mall, consignment district, and much more!