Bowling Green, October 20, 2025
News Summary
Bowling Green’s annual Harvest Festival welcomed over 20,000 visitors in a day of community fun, featuring various activities, food vendors, and a pumpkin drop event. The festival closed major streets to accommodate attendees, showcasing more than 300 craft vendors and live music performances. Highlights included a bike rodeo promoting cycling safety and a vibrant Fall Fiesta segment. With overwhelmingly positive community engagement and a focus on family-friendly activities, this year’s festival marked a record turnout, emphasizing local culture and connection.
Bowling Green celebrated its annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 18, 2025, drawing a record attendance of over 20,000 visitors in the downtown area. Pleasant, warm weather reminiscent of summer played a significant role in attracting crowds, making it the largest turnout in the festival’s history, according to the downtown development coordinator.
The festival saw the closure of College Street and East 7th Avenue to accommodate an array of vendors and various activities spread across multiple locations, including the SOKY Center, Fountain Square Park, Circus Square Park, and the Fringe area. The SOKY Center, formerly known as SOKY Marketplace, hosted additional vendors and featured live music throughout the day.
Fountain Square Park highlighted the Fall Fiesta segment of the festival, showcasing activities relating to Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Circus Square Park included a unique pumpkin drop event, where pumpkins were released from a Bowling Green Fire Department ladder truck every hour onto a tarp below. The pumpkins for this event were generously donated by Just Piddlin’ Farm. Bowling Green Fire Department Captain Dustin Jones participated in the pumpkin drop, marking his inaugural involvement in this engaging activity.
In the Fringe area, a “bike rodeo” organized by BikeWalk BG and Warren County Parks and Recreation provided education for children and parents about biking safety. Participants at the bike rodeo could take a pledge for safe biking practices and were rewarded with free bike helmets.
The festival lasted for five hours, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring various engaging activities including face painting, rubber duck launching, and a smoke maze operated by the Bowling Green Fire Department in Circus Square Park. Attendees enjoyed live music performances from local bands, including Requiem, significantly enriching the festival atmosphere.
Food trucks encircled Fountain Square and Circus Square parks, offering a variety of culinary delights. Many attendees, such as RJ Ismail, selected the festival primarily for its food offerings, with some specifically mentioning a desire for shawarma. The event showcased over 300 craft vendors and 70 food vendors, featuring a wide range of local and state goods. Autumn Harbison, one of the vendors, expressed enthusiasm regarding the positive atmosphere created by the large crowd.
Community contributions soared, with sponsorship from various organizations, including the Warren County Public Library, Allstate, and the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana. Ryan Patte from Warren County Parks and Recreation noted the Bicycle Co-op’s free repairs available at the event, underscoring the community’s involvement in promoting cycling.
This year’s Harvest Festival in Bowling Green not only celebrated the local culture but also provided a platform for community connection, with numerous activities designed for family engagement, education, and enjoyment.
FAQ
What date did the Downtown Bowling Green Harvest Festival take place?
The annual Harvest Festival took place on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
How many attendees were recorded for the festival?
Attendance estimates exceeded 20,000 people.
What locations were closed for the festival?
College Street and East 7th Avenue were closed for the event to accommodate vendors and activities.
What kind of activities were featured at the festival?
The festival featured activities such as live music, face painting, rubber duck launching, a smoke maze, a pumpkin drop event, and a bike rodeo.
What was the purpose of the bike rodeo?
The bike rodeo focused on educating children and parents about biking safety.
How many vendors participated in the festival?
The festival showcased over 300 craft vendors and 70 food vendors.
Which organizations sponsored the event?
Community contributions included sponsorship from organizations such as the Warren County Public Library, Allstate, and the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana.
What were the festival hours?
The event lasted five hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Key Features of the Downtown Bowling Green Harvest Festival
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | October 18, 2025 |
| Attendance | Over 20,000 attendees |
| Location | Downtown Bowling Green, including College Street and East 7th Avenue |
| Vendor Count | Over 300 craft vendors and 70 food vendors |
| Event Duration | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (5 hours) |
| Activities | Pumpkin drop, bike rodeo, live music, face painting, rubber duck launching, smoke maze |
| Sponsorship | Warren County Public Library, Allstate, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Bowling Green Harvest Festival Celebrates Fall Traditions
Bowling Green Hosts Annual Harvest Festival
Additional Resources
- BG Daily News
- Wikipedia: Harvest Festival
- WBKO
- Google Search: Bowling Green Harvest Festival 2025
- WKU Herald
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Festival
- WNKY
- Google News: Bowling Green Harvest Festival
Author: STAFF HERE BOWLING GREEN WRITER
The BOWLING GREEN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBowlingGreen.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Bowling Green, Warren County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the National Corvette Homecoming, International Festival, concerts at SKyPAC, and sports events at Beech Bend Park. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and the African American Museum Bowling Green Area, plus leading businesses in automotive, apparel, and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant, Fruit of the Loom, and Med Center Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERELexingtonKY.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
