Week of April 30- May 6

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.

The heat is on in Bowling Green this week and temps above 90 degrees are expected on Saturday, so before the Run for the Roses, get some wind in your hair at Beech Bend Amusement Park's Opening Day. It's time once again to scream on the Kentucky Rumbler, soar in the Sea Dragon, whirl in the Tornado, squirl in the Tilt-A-Whirl, and cool off on the Whitewater Express. Don't miss the brand new Zero-G ride, a 140-foot drop tower!

Season passes at Beech Bend Park include admission to the newly expanded Splash Lagoon water park, opening May 17, plus live shows and mini-golf at Gold Rush Golf. All the extras return this year like free parking, free soft drinks, free sunscreen and free tubes. If you're just visiting the Bowling Green area, daily tickets are available online and the Visitors Bureau has coupons!

Visit the link below or call 270-781-7634 to learn more about Beech Bend.

The thousands of enthusiastic Corvette lovers who make a trip to Bowling Green throughout the year would probably have to do a double-take if they arrived on the scene this weekend! Junior Achievement celebrates its 18th Annual Mini Corvette Challenge this year, and the fundraising event will be at the National Corvette Museum Saturday. Qualifying heats begin at 9:30 a.m. with the championship cup races starting at 1:30 p.m. The awards ceremony follows.

Presented by Houchens Industries, the Mini Corvette Challenge offers area businesses the chance to race their custom-tooled and detailed Corvette go-carts around a mini-racetrack. They will be competing for the coveted Gold Cup and bragging rights for the year as they raise money and awareness for Junior Achievement. JA's purpose is to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business and economics in order to improve the quality of their lives. Visit the link below or call 270-782-0280 for more details!

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. (Sam Bush Photo by David Clister)

Ongoing - May 8 Paintings by Myra Dwyer, Capitol Arts Center Mezzanine Gallery, M-F 9am-5pm, 782-2787, capitolarts.com

Ongoing - May 6 Herb Festival, Wild Bird and Nature Store, 9am-6pm, variety of special programs daily, 746-0203

Ongoing - May 12 Spring Graduating Seniors Exhibition, WKU Ivan Wilson FAC 2D Corridor Gallery & Main Gallery, wku.edu/art

Ongoing - May 13 Becky's New Car, Public Theatre of Kentucky, Phoenix Theatre, Th 7pm, Fri-Sat 8pm, Sun 3pm, 781-6233, ptkbg.org

Ongoing - July 27 Callaway Corvettes & 50th Anniversary of Z06 Exhibit, National Corvette Museum, 781-7973, 8am-5pm daily, corvettemuseum.org

Apr. 30 An Evening of Dance, WKU Russell H. Miller Theatre, 8pm, 745-5845, wku.edu/theatre-and-dance

May 1 Last Chance to Dance, WKU Russell H. Miller Theatre, 4pm, 745-5845, wku.edu/theatre-and-dance

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

1 WKU Baseball vs. Louisville, Nick Denes Field, 6pm, 1-800-5-BIG RED, wkusports.com

1 Concerto Concert, WKU Van Meter Hall, 7:30pm, $10 Adults/$5 Students, 745-3751, wku.edu/music

1, 3 Planetarium Show: Interpreting the Narrative of our Ancient Earth, WKU Hardin Planetarium, 7pm, 745-4044, wku.edu/physics

3- 31 Reach Higher: Women and Children Learning Together Exhibit, Southern KY Performing Arts Center Children's Gallery, M-F 11am-6pm, 904-1880, theskypac.com

3- June 30 John S. Hockensmith: Spanish Mustangs Exhibit, Southern KY Performing Arts Center Main Gallery, M-F 11am-6pm, 904-1880, theskypac.com

4 The Before Broadway Series Presents: Ordinary High, WKU Gordon Wilson Lab Theatre, 7pm, 745-5845, wku.edu/theatre-and-dance

4 Golden Dragon Acrobats, Family Fun Series, Southern KY Performing Arts Center, 7:30pm, 904-1880, theskypac.com

4 Stock Car Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, gates open at 5pm, racing at 8pm, $10, 781-7634, beechbend.com

4-6 An Arthurian Tale, Capitol Arts Center, CAYT, Fri & Sat 7pm, Sun 3pm, 782-2787, capitolarts.com

4-6 KY International Barrel Racing Association Show, WKU Ag Expo Center, 745-3976, wku.edu/expo

4-6 Total Fitness 5th Annual Rapid Fire Baseball Tournament, Ephram White Park, Todd Stinson

5 O'Reilly Saturday Night Fun Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, gates open at 5pm, 781-7634, beechbend.com

5-6 NMA 2012 Kentuckiana Regional Qualifier, Ballance Moto X, Gates open 6am Sat & Sun, $20/ $10 both Sat & Sun, $10/ $5 Sun only, 792-7223, ballancemotox.com

5-8 Bowling Green Hot Rods vs. Lake County Captains, BG BallPark, 901-2121, bghotrods.com

6 NHRA Drag Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, gates open at 10am, 781-7634, beechbend.com

6 Symphony Chamber Series, Baker Chamber Players, Baker Arboretum and Downing Museum, 3 pm, 745-5222, thesymphonyatwku.org

May 11-12 WKU Commencement Weekend, E.A. Diddle Arena

May 12 Second Saturdays Street Fair, Fountain Square Park

May 12 Olde Stone Run for PRIDE, The Club at Olde Stone

May 12 National Train Day, activities at Historic Railpark and Train Museum

May 13 CATS, Broadway Series, Southern KY Performing Arts Center

May 17 New York Times Bestselling Author Michael Palmer, Christ Episcopal Church

May 17-19 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Regional Golf Championship, The Club at Olde Stone

May 17-19 2012 C4/ ZR-1 Gathering, National Corvette Museum

May 17-20 "Designing Women Live", Phoenix Theatre

May 18 TS Performance All Diesel Drags, Beech Bend Raceway

May 18-19 15th Annual BB&T All-American Soap Box Derby, Phil Moore Park Soap Box Derby Track

May 19 Comedian Jon Reep, Southern KY Performing Arts Center

May 19 John Mellencamp featuring Court Yard Hounds, WKU Houchens-Smith Stadium

Do visitors frequent your business or place of employment? Encourage your key staff members (or yourself!) to attend one of next Tuesday's VETTE- Very Enthusiastic Travel & Tourism Expert- Hospitality Classes to learn valuable information about the local tourism scene. Classes are from 9-10am or 3-4pm May 8 at the Holiday Inn and are FREE! Call 782-0800 or reply to this email to sign up. Additional sessions are available in June & July.