Week of December 5-11

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.

One of the most anticipated and popular holiday events in Bowling Green begins tonight, the Polar Express Storytimes at the Railpark! Enjoy a reading of Chris Van Allsburgh's The Polar Express aboard the Duncan Hines Dining Car. Afterward, cookies and hot chocolate will be served in the Depot. In the spirit of the book, children are invited to wear their PJ's.

Not every little boy and girl is lucky enough to have a real train right in their own town, so take advantage of this opportunity to not only begin a fantastic tradition, but to give them an experience they won't forget! Tickets are available free of charge, but reservations are required by calling 270-745-7317. Three more evenings of Storytimes will take place next week, December 12-14. Follow the link below to learn more.

There is a great lineup of holiday performances over the next week in Bowling Green, guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit! On Wednesday, see the classic children's story, The Velveteen Rabbit, at WKU Van Meter Hall at 5:30 pm. Presented by the Art Education Task Force, get more information at 270-779-2185. From Thursday to Sunday, you can catch The Best Christmas Pageant Ever from Public Theatre of Kentucky at the Phoenix Theatre. Visit www.ptkbg.org for more details.

The Capitol Arts Alliance presents a community production of The Nutcracker Friday through Sunday at the Capitol Arts Center. Visit www.capitolarts.com for showtimes. Also on Friday night is The Symphony at WKU's 8 pm performance of Holiday Pops at Van Meter Hall. Reserve your seats by calling 270-745-5222.

Then on Sunday, the Caveman Chorus presents "Carols & Cookies" at 3pm at Greenwood Park Church of Christ (call 270-303-1721 for more information) followed by First Baptist Church's Choir Program, "Shall I Play For Him," at 7 pm (www.firstbaptistbg.org for more details). Sit back, enjoy and celebrate the season! A couple of area churches are presenting live nativities this weekend as well!

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 - 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 Dollar Days, National Corvette Museum, $1 Admission for Kentucky residents, 781-7973, corvettemuseum.org

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

Ongoing - Dec. 31 Carriage Rides, Downtown BG, Mon-Fri 6-9pm, Sat-Sun 1-7pm, No rides 12/9, Adults $5, Kids 13 & under $1, 792-3838

Ongoing - Dec. 23 33rd Annual Trees of Christmas, Eloise B. Houchens Center, free, M-F 10am-2pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm, 842-6761

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

Ongoing - Jan. 3 Holiday Tree Exhibit, Kentucky Museum, Mon.-Sat. 9am-4pm, Sun. 1-4pm, 745-2592, wku.edu/museum

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

Ongoing - Feb. 18 History to Practice Graphic Design Exhibit, KY Museum, M-Sat 9am-4pm, 745-2592, wku.edu/museum

5 WKU Lady Toppers vs. Louisiana Tech, E.A. Diddle Arena, 7 pm, 745-5222, wkusports.com

6 "Concluding Panel Discussion," Lincoln: the Constitution and the Civil War, Kentucky Museum, 7pm, 745-2592, wku.edu/museum

6 Bowling Green Prayer Breakfast, National Corvette Museum, 7am, $35 tickets, 467-8815, prayerbreakfast.com

6 The Star of Bethlehem, WKU Hardin Planetarium, Bethlehem sky from Christ's birth, 7pm Tues & Th, 2pm Sun, free, 745-4044

8 Christmas Tea and Tour, Riverview at Hobson Grove, 1:30-3:30 pm, Reservations required, 843-5565, bgky.org/riverview

8-11 Walk Through Bethlehem, Grace Baptist Church, 6-9 pm, Free Admission, 781-5355

9 33rd Annual Trees of Christmas Shopping Day, Eloise B. Houchens Center, 10am- 5pm, lunch available, 842-6761

9-10 Festival of the Nativity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 5:30-8:30pm, free admission, live nativity, 842-0985

9-11 Along Came A Dragon, Children's Theatre Series, WKU Gordon Wilson Hall, 4pm Fri, 1 & 3pm Sat, 3pm Sun, 745-5845, wku.edu/theatre-and-dance

10 Kids Only Shopping Days, Wildflower Gifts at Lost River Cave, let 'Christmas Carole' help your little ones find gifts within budget, 9am- 6pm, 393-0077, gifts.lostrivercave.com

10 Holiday Open House, LuLu's Fine Home Furnishings, 10am-5pm, 781-5550, lulusfinehomefurnishings.com

10 Home for the Holidays Concert, the Warehouse at Mt. Victor, featuring Ernie Small Blues Band, Jane & Rachael Pearl, and more, 7-11pm, $10, 904-6677, thewarehouseatmtvictor.com

10 North Warren Holiday Bazaar, North Warren Elementary Gym, 420 College St., Smiths Grove, 8 am-1 pm, 563-2041

10 Breakfast with Santa, Chaney's Dairy Barn, 8 & 10am, advanced reservation only, 843-5567, chaneysdairybarn.com

11 Bowling Green Woman's Club Christmas Home Tour, 6 homes and 1 business, 1-5 pm, $10 Advance Tickets and list of homes at Werner-Lowe & Betty Thomas Interiors, 661 31W ByPass, $12 day of tour at any home, 781-1120 or 996-8880

11 Dinosaur World Toy Donation Sunday, Get 50% off admission with a new packaged toy, 773-4345, dinosaurworld.com

11 WKU Lady Toppers vs. Florida International, E.A. Diddle Arena, 2 pm, 745-5222, wkusports.com

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

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

December 17 Kids Only Shopping Days, Wildflower Gifts at Lost River Cave

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

December 19-21 Citizens First Holiday Classic, Bowling Green High School

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