Week of July 2- 8

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 flags are waving and the fireworks stands are plentiful, so it must be time to celebrate our nation's independence! Pack up the car on Tuesday afternoon and head on out to the National Corvette Museum amphitheater for the 2012 Thunderfest Independence Day Celebration sponsored by Citizens First Bank and presented by the BG Kiwanis Club. Enjoy music, activities, fun and fireworks for only $15 a carload or $5 per person over 12 years, and all proceeds benefit local children's charities. Visit the link below to learn more!

Also on Monday and Tuesday nights, the Bowling Green Hot Rods will celebrate the 4th with Fireworks displays following both games against the Dayton Dragons. Call 270-901-2121 or visit bghotrods.com for tickets.

Then on Wednesday, hit the waves at Barren River Lake and enjoy the State Park's annual 4th of July Fireworks over the water just after dark. Call 270-646-2151 for more information.

The streets of downtown Bowling Green are about to become much more lively during the weekend kickoff as the Concerts in the Park series moves to Friday nights. Expanding to both parks and taking place every Friday night through August 24, the whole gang can get together for some great fun and good tunes under the downtown lights. This FREE concert series is presented by BB&T and produced by the Downtown Redevelopment Authority.

Music begins in Fountain Square Park at 6:30 p.m. and then just a couple of blocks away at Circus Square Park at 7:30 p.m. Food vendors and a Beer Garden will be available (Circus Square). Just bring a blanket or lawn chair, sit back and enjoy!

This Friday will feature Song Farmers, a bluegrass/ Celtic band, at Fountain Square and Ernie Small Blues Band at Circus Square. For a complete schedule, visit the link below or call 270-782-0222.

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

All phone numbers are area code 270 unless otherwise noted.

Ongoing - July 8 Kids Festival 2012, Beech Bend Park, featuring Kent Family Magic Circus daily, 781-7634, beechbend.com

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

Ongoing - July 30 Camp Big Red, Western Kentucky University, One Week Sessions, ages 6-12, 7:30am - 4:30pm, $125, wku.edu/campbigred

July 3 Beaver Tuesday Night Drags Fun Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, gates open at 6 pm, 781-7634, beechbend.com

July 4 "Going to the Fourth?" Celebration, Mammoth Cave National Park, music in the amphitheater from 1-3pm, genealogy & history in the Hotel's Rotunda Room from 10am- 3:30pm, 773-5099

July 5 Neal Morse in Concert, Sloan Convention Center, 7:30 pm, tickets $30 online/ $40 at the door, 799-1718, radiantrecords.com

July 6 Concerts in the Park, Friday Nights Live Series, Fountain Square & Circus Square Parks, 6:30pm & 7:30pm, 782-0222, downtownbg.org

July 6 Stock Car Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, gates open at 5pm, racing at 8pm, $10, 781-7634, beechbend.com

July 6-7 ASA Girls Fast Pitch 6-U/8-U State Softball Tournament, Buchanon Park, bpettyasa@aol.com

July 6-7 NBTR Yard Sale, benefit for New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding, Jimmy Diemer BBQ, 6am- 6pm both days, 991-9058, nbtr-bg.org

July 7 O'Reilly Saturday Night Fun Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, gates open at 5pm, 781-7634, beechbend.com

July 7-9 Bowling Green Hot Rods vs. Lake County Captains, BG BallPark, 901-2121, bghotrods.com

July 8 NHRA Drag Racing - No Bikes, Beech Bend Raceway, gates open at 10am, 781-7634, beechbend.com

July 9-22 Cram the Corvette Supply Drive, National Corvette Museum

July 10 WCPL Hosts writer/actress Mary McDonough, Main Library

July 13 Concerts in the Park, Friday Nights Live Series

July 13-14 Rocky Mountain Horse Show, WKU Brown Ag Expo Center

July 13-15 KY ASA All Ages Girls Fast Pitch State Softball Tournament, Buchanon Park

July 14 Red Riding Hood, SKyPAC, presented by Missoula Children's Theatre

July 14 Lost River Southern Summer Music Festival, Lost River Cave

July 19 Billy Joe Shaver Band, The Warehouse at Mt. Victor

July 19-21 National Corvette Homecoming, Sloan Convention Center

July 19-21 2012 Shooting Master Industry Event, Rockcastle Shooting Center

July 19-22 KY ASA Girls Fast Pitch 6-U & 8-U Softball Tournament, Buchanon Park

July 20 Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, The Warehouse at Mt. Victor

The BG Area CVB office will be closed Wednesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Area Visitors Guides, coupon books, event information and more can be found on our front porch rack at 352 Three Springs Road. Happy 4th!