Week of November 28- December 4

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.

Several events kicked off the 2011 Holiday season this past weekend, but if you're crazy about Holiday Happenings, then this is the week for which you've been waiting all year long!

Begin the Christmas season in the heart of town Thursday evening as Downtown Lights Up and see Fountain Square Park transformed into an enchanted wonderland. Shop the Downtown Holiday Market all weekend or take in a performance of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, WKU's WinterFest or WinterDance. Venture to downtown Smiths Grove Friday evening for the annual Christmas Parade, wander in and out of Bowling Green's many galleries and studios for the Gallery Hop, or take a Candlelight Tour at Riverview.

Then on Saturday morning, it's the Bowling Green Christmas Parade downtown at 9:30 a.m. followed by Christmas in Kentucky at the Kentucky Museum from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then head out to the Shaker Museum at South Union for the annual Holiday Market full of handmade, unique items for sale or take in the Landmark Association's Christmas Tour.

As if that isn't enough, you can also go all aboard at the Historic Railpark's Festival of Trains beginning Friday evening through Sunday to see outdoor lights, model train displays, and take part in the Great Chocolate Wreck.

But that's not all! To learn about even more holiday events and get all the details, visit our site at the link below.

Grab the stadium blankets, the pom-poms, megaphones, and the hot cocoa, then let the high school championship football games begin!

For the third consecutive year, the city of Bowling Green, WKU, and new title sponsor Russell Athletic host the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl this Friday and Saturday, and the competition promises some great matches with lots of regional representation. Three games will be played each day at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the Hill at Houchens- Smith Stadium.

Participating teams include Mayfield, Hazard, Glasgow, Holy Cross, Central, Belfry, Franklin-Simpson, Highlands, Bowling Green, Anderson Co., Trinity, and Scott Co. Spectators can get tickets at the gate, but to guarantee your seat, call 800-5-BIG-RED (244733) or go online at www.wkusports.com. Follow the link below for full championship details including parking maps.

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

All phone numbers are area code 270 unless otherwise noted.

Ongoing - Nov. 30 Military Appreciation Month, National Corvette Museum, free admission with Military or service ID, 781-7973, corvettemuseum.org

Ongoing - Dec. 6 Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War, traveling exhibit, Kentucky Museum, 745-2592, wku.edu/museum

Ongoing - Dec. 10 Preserving the Past, Sustaining the Future, Juried Quilt Show Celebrating FACS, Kentucky Museum, 9am-4pm, 842-0686

Ongoing - Dec.17 Fall Graduating Seniors Exhibition, WKU Ivan Wilson FAC, 2D Corridor Gallery & Main Gallery, reception 12/17, 745-3944, wku.edu/art

Ongoing - Dec 22 Annual Holiday Art Sale, VSA Arts Access Gallery, M-F 8:30-4:30pm, 781-0872, vsartsky.org

Ongoing - Dec. 31 100 Years of Chevrolet Exhibit, National Corvette Museum, 8am- 5pm daily, 781-7973, corvettemuseum.org

Ongoing - Jan. 3 Holiday Tree Exhibit, Kentucky Museum, Mon.-Sat. 9am-4pm, 745-2592, wku.edu/museum

28 Messiah Meets Mancini, Orchestra Kentucky VIP Series, WKU Van Meter Hall, 7:30pm, 846-2426, OrchestraKentucky.com

28- Jan. 7 Bill Guffey Exhibit, The Gallery at 916, opening reception 12/2, M-F 11am-6pm, Sat 11am-2pm, 843-5511, thegalleryat916.com

29, Dec. 1, 4 The Star of Bethlehem, WKU Hardin Planetarium, see Bethlehem sky at Christ's birth, Tues & Thurs 7pm, Sun 2pm, free, 745-4044

30 WKU Physics Night, Thompson Complex Lobby, 8pm, free physics demonstrations & hands on activities, 745-5940, physics.wku.edu

1 WKU Men's Basketball vs. Murray State, E.A. Diddle Arena, 7pm, 745-5222, wkusports.com

1-11 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Public Theatre of KY, Phoenix Theatre, Th 7pm, Fri- Sat 8pm, Sun 3 pm, 781-6233, ptkbg.org

1-31 Dollar Days, National Corvette Museum, $1 Admission for Kentucky residents with proof of residency, 781-7973, corvettemuseum.org

1-31 Carriage Rides, Downtown BG, Mon-Fri 6-9pm, Sat-Sun 1-7pm, Adults $5, Kids 13 & under $1, Proceeds go to charities, 792-3838

2 Christmas at Shakertown Holiday Market Preview Party, South Union Shaker Village, 7-9pm, reservations required, $10, 800-811-8379, shakermuseum.com

2 Holiday Bash, National Corvette Museum, benefiting area charities, music, food & drink, live & silent auctions, 5pm, 469-5526

2-4 "Two From Galilee" Christmas Musical, Rich Pond Baptist Church, Fri-Sat 7pm, Sun 6pm, Call ahead for free tickets, 842-2593

2-23 33rd Annual Trees of Christmas, Eloise B. Houchens Center, free admission to see decorated trees, M-F 10am-2pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm, Open House 12/2 at 3pm, Shopping Day 12/9 from 10am-5pm, 842-6761

2- Jan. 3 2011 All Kentucky Juried Show, Capitol Arts Center, Houchens & Mezzanine Galleries, 782-2787, capitolarts.com

3-4 Southern KY Team Penning Association, WKU Brown Ag Expo Center, 745-3976, wku.edu/expo

4 WKU Men's Basketball vs. Bowling Green State, E.A. Diddle Arena, 2pm, 745-5222, wkusports.com

4 Dinosaur World Toy Donation Sunday, 50% off admission 12/4, 11, & 18 with a new packaged toy, 773-4345, dinosaurworld.com

4 Cave Sing, Mammoth Cave National Park, free, Storytelling at Hotel 1:15pm, Cave Sing meets at Visitor Center 2 pm, 758-2192

December 5-7 & 12-14 The Polar Express Storytimes, Historic Railpark & Train Museum

December 7 The Velveteen Rabbit, WKU Van Meter Hall

December 8 Christmas Tea and Tour, Riverview at Hobson Grove

December 8-11 Walk Through Bethlehem, Grace Baptist Church

December 9 Holiday Pops, WKU Van Meter Hall

December 9-11 The Nutcracker, Capitol Arts Center

December 10, 17 & 24 Breakfast with Santa, Chaney's Dairy Barn

December 11 BG Woman's Club Christmas Home Tour

December 15 Tea with Mrs. Claus, Riverview at Hobson Grove

December 15-18 The Farnsdale Ave. Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of "A Christmas Carol", Phoenix Theatre

December 17 A Rockin' Christmas, WKU Van Meter Hall

Take a look at all the upcoming Holiday Events by visiting our Holiday site!