Week of November 21-27

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.

Beech Bend Raceway's 2011 season comes to a close this weekend with the Thanksgiving Bracket Nationals. Grab your earplugs and take in enough NHRA action to last the winter as the Super-Pro with Delay hot shots run freebie time trials both Friday and Saturday mornings. Paying up to 64 places and awarding a $10,000 winner each day, there is sure to be some heated competition!

Why not take in a different kind of 'burn out' while the crowds at the shopping centers are burning each other out! Spectator admission is just $10 per person and children 12 and under are free with an adult. Friday and Saturday's eliminations start immediately following the time-trials that begin at 8:30 am. On Sunday, eliminations begin bright and early at 9 am. Click on the link below or call 270-781-7634 for more information.

It only makes sense that little boys and girls in the Bowling Green area should get their picture taken with Santa and America's sports car! The National Corvette Museum invites you to do just that on Saturday morning for Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Enjoy a hot breakfast, get creative with arts and crafts activities, take away treats from the IGA "Land of Sweets," view life-size gingerbread houses, hear stories from Mrs. Claus, and be entertained with live performances all under one roof.

Then it's time to capture the moment with a photo of your little one with Santa and his sleigh... a red Corvette! New this year will be Santa's Market along the Corvette Boulevard, open to the public at no charge. These vendor booths will be available for shopping from 9 am to 3 pm.

Tickets for the Breakfast are only $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 1-16. Call the Museum at 270-781- 7973 to reserve your tickets or click on the link below to order online!

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 - Nov. 28 Christopher Olszewski Paintings, WKU FAC Main Gallery, Native American artist, 745-3944, wku.edu/art

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

21 Revusicals, Music Theatre performance, WKU Gordon Wilson Hall, 7pm, free, 745-5845

22 WKU Lady Toppers vs. Wright State, E.A. Diddle Arena, 7pm, 745-5222, www.wkusports.com

22 The Star of Bethlehem, WKU Hardin Planetarium, see the Bethlehem sky from time of Christ's birth, 7pm, free, 745-4044

23 WKU Men's Basketball vs VCU, E.A. Diddle Arena, 7pm, 745-5222, www.wkusports.com

24 The 25th Annual Great Turkey Run, Kereiakes Park, 8am, 5k Run & 3k Walk, prizes, register online at www.onestoprace.com, 779-6065, www.bgrr.com

25-26 Old Fashioned Christmas in the Country, Rock Garden Farm in Woodburn, Nashville Rd. 10am-5pm, 529-9144

25-26 Holiday Open House, Chaney's Dairy Barn, 11am- 4pm, 843-5567, chaneysdairybarn.com

26 All Aboard Series, Bell's Tavern: Stagecoach & Railroad Stop, Historic Railpark & Train Museum, 8:30am, 745-7317, www.historicrailpark.com

26 WKU Football vs. Troy, Houchens-Smith Stadium, 11:30am, www.wkusports.com

26 WKU Men's Basketball vs. Southeastern Louisiana, E.A. Diddle Arena, 7pm, 745-5222, www.wkusports.com

27 The Star of Bethlehem, WKU Hardin Planetarium, see the Bethlehem sky from time of Christ's birth, 2pm, free, 745-4044

November 28 Messiah Meets Mancini, Orchestra KY, WKU Van Meter Hall

December 1-11 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Phoenix Theatre

December 1 Downtown Lights Up, Fountain Square Park

December 1-31 Downtown Carriage Rides, Fountain Square Park

December 2 Bowling Green Gallery Hop, galleries, museums and studio centers around town

December 2 Candlelight Tour, Riverview at Hobson Grove

December 2-3 Russell Athletic/ KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl, WKU Houchens-Smith Stadium

December 2-4 Festival of Trains, Historic Railpark & Train Museum

December 3 BG-WC Jaycees Christmas Parade, downtown Bowling Green

December 3 Christmas in Kentucky, Kentucky Museum

December 3 Christmas at Shakertown Holiday Market, South Union Shaker Village

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

December 7 The Velveteen Rabbit, WKU Van Meter Hall

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

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

Here's wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving from the BG Area Convention & Visitors Bureau! The office will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 24-25, for the holiday. Brochures, maps, coupons and event information will still be available on our front porch on Three Springs Road, plus a listing of available dining options.