Week of April 11-17

Welcome to our weekly "What's Happening" email, designed to provide you with a glance at opportunities for an unbridled good time in the Bowling Green area.

It's finally here... spring and the return of the Bowling Green Hot Rods! After a long, cold winter, South Central Kentucky is ready for outdoor entertainment and family fun to return to the Ballpark, and the Hot Rods are ready to get cracking with games every day this week. A pre-game concert from the Black Shades plus a t-shirt giveaway will take place tonight, opening night, with the game beginning at 6:35 pm.

Each Saturday home game this season, catch the Holley Hot Rod Parade before the game, then watch as fireworks illuminate the downtown sky after the game. Thrifty Thursdays, Faith & Family Nights, Scout Sleepover Nights, Education Days, and many more fueled by fun promotions are in store this summer. For more promotion details and the full schedule, follow the link below or call 270-901-2121.

For the love of books, you don't want to miss this year's Southern Kentucky Book Fest at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center this weekend! The 13th annual event includes the Children's Day and Kentucky Writer's Conference on Friday followed by the main attraction on Saturday featuring best-selling author Nicholas Sparks among 130 others. Tickets will be handed out beginning at 9 am Saturday for Sparks' free presentation at 11 am.

Additional top names include Jean Auel, T.J. Stiles, Silas House, Byron Crawford, and Judith Viorst. This FREE event is presented by WKU Libraries, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and the Warren County Public Library to encourage reading and the love of books while promoting literacy. To learn more and to view a full schedule, visit the website below or call 270-745-5016.

To view the complete calendar of upcoming events, click here and visit our homepage.

All phone numbers are area code 270 unless otherwise noted.

Ongoing - April 16 From Here to There Science Exhibit, National Corvette Museum, 8 am-5 pm daily, 781-7973, www.corvettemuseum.org

Ongoing - April 19 Darryl Halbrooks & Joe Molinaro Exhibits, Capitol Arts Center Houchens Gallery, 782-2787, www.capitolarts.com

Ongoing - April 22 Seeing Ourselves: Photographs of Safe Haven, VSA Kentucky ArtsACCESS Gallery, 781-0872, www.vsartsky.org

Ongoing - April 30 Home School Month, Kentucky Down Under & Dinosaur World, Homeschooled students receive group rates, 800-762-2869, www.kdu.com, 773-4345, www.dinosaurworld.com

Ongoing - May 2 Rachael Baumgardner Exhibit, Capitol Arts Center Mezzanine Gallery, 782-2787, www.capitolarts.com

Ongoing - May 14 Visiting Artist Exhibition, WKU Ivan Wilson FAC Corridor Gallery, 745-3944, www.wku.edu/pcal

11-14 BG Hot Rods v. Fort Wayne, 6:35 pm Mon, Wed & Thur, 11:05 am Tues, 901-2121, www.bghotrods.com

12 Banjo Bill and CJ, Folk Musicians, Java City in WKU Helm Library, 12 pm, 745-6156, www.wku.edu/library

12 Beaver Tuesday Night Drag/Oval Fun Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, 6 pm, 781-7634, beechbend.com

12 Percussion Ensemble, WKU Fine Arts Center Recital Hall, 7:30 pm, 745-3751, www.wku.edu/pcal

13 WKU Baseball vs. Murray State, 6 pm, 1-800-5-BIG RED (244733), www.wkusports.com

13 Novella Carpenter, Journalist and Author of Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, Kentucky Library & Museum, 7 pm, 745-2592, http://ghosttownfarm.wordpress.com

14-17 "39 Hours", Rich Pond Baptist Church, Thur.-Sat 7:00PM & Sun. 10 am, (270) 842-2593, www.RichPond.org

14-19 A Taste of Honey, Gordon Wilson Lab Theatre, 8 pm except Sun. 3 pm, 745-3121, wku.edu/pcal

14-May 13 Isabel Barbuzza Exhibition, WKU Ivan Wilson FAC Main Gallery, 745-3944, www.wku.edu/pcal

15 Newsboys Concert, Christian Rock Band, E. A. Diddle Arena, 7 pm, 745-5222, www.ticketmaster.com

15 Stock Car Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, gates open at 5 pm, 781-7634, www.beechbend.com

15 Funk Explosion!, Capitol Arts Center, 8 pm, 782-2787, www.capitolarts.com

15-16 South Union Seminar, Fri dinner, Sat. 9 am-3 pm at Centre House, 800-811-8379, www.shakermuseum.com

15-16 Opera Theatre "Crossing Over: The Classical Singer Goes to Broadway," WKU FAC Recital Hall, 7:30 pm Fri, 3 pm Sat, $5, 745-3751, www.wku.edu/pcal

15-17 BG Hot Rods v. Lake County, 7:05 pm Fri & Sat, 2:05 pm Sun, 901-2121, www.bghotrods.com

15-17 4th Annual Total Fitness Spread & Flex 8U-12U Baseball, 782-3503, tstinson@totalfitnessconnection.com

15-17 Driving Miss Daisy, Public Theatre of KY, Phoenix Theatre, Fri. & Sat. 8 pm, Sun. 3 pm, 781-6233, ptkbg.org

15-17 WKU Baseball vs. Arkansas State, 6 pm Fri, 3 pm Sat, 1 pm Sun, 1-800-5-BIG RED (244733), wkusports.com

15-17 WKU Chess Tournament, WKU-Garrett Conference Center, all day, 918-809-6278, www.hilltopperchess.net

15-May 14 Dept. of Art Spring Graduating Seniors Exhibition, Kentucky Museum, 745-3944, www.wku.edu/pcal

16 Ernie Small Blues Band: 30th Anniversary, Capitol Arts Center, 8:00pm, 782-2787, www.capitolarts.com

16 BGWC's Humane Society 5K Fundraising Walk, BG WC Regional Airport, 783-9404, www.bgwchs.org

16 Independence Bank Dog Show, benefits Relay for Life, 2415 Nashville Rd, 10:30am, Registration 9am, 746-0980

16 Easter Egg Hunt, Riverview at Hobson Grove, 2 pm, 843-5565, www.bgky.org/riverview

16 Rain Barrel Making Workshop, WKU Parking Structure 1, 1-4pm, $40, registration required, 745-2508, wku.edu/cees

16 1st Annual Earth Day Recycling Event, SoKy Young Marines, Lost River Cave and Valley, 9am-3pm, www.sokyym.com, 615-206-8048

16 O'Reilly Saturday Night Fun Racing, Swap Meet & Flea Market, Beech Bend Raceway, 781-7634, beechbend.com

17 NHRA Drag Racing with Super Gas, Beech Bend Raceway, gates open at 11 am, 781-7634, www.beechbend.com

April 18 Sandi Patty: On Broadway, Orchestra Kentucky, WKU Van Meter Hall

April 21-24 Driving Miss Daisy, Public Theatre of Kentucky

April 21-May 1 Herb Festival, Wild Bird & Nature Store

April 23 Bunny Brunch, National Corvette Museum

April 23 Earth Day Invasive Plant Pull Celebration, Lost River Cave & Valley

April 28-30 C5/C6 Bash, National Corvette Museum

April 28-May 1 Driving Miss Daisy, Public Theatre of Kentucky

April 28-May 3 An Evening of Dance 2011, WKU Fine Arts Center

April 29 Broadway and Beyond Faculty Recital, WKU Fine Arts Center

April 29-30 One of These Nights: A Tribute to the Eagles, Capitol Arts Center