Week of November 26- December 2

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 2012 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 with Orchestra Kentucky's Home for the Holidays on Monday night. A few tickets may still be available for Polar Express Storytimes at the Historic Railpark and Train Museum. Don't miss an enchanting performance by the Moscow Ballet in the classic Great Russian Nutcracker on Wednesday and Thursday night at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center.

Head downtown for some more holiday fun Friday evening as Downtown Lights Up and see Fountain Square Park transformed into an enchanted wonderland. While you're there, check out the Bowling Green Gallery Hop and the Fountain Square Christmas Market.

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 of Homes. 

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 and train displays. 

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 fourth consecutive year, the city of Bowling Green, WKU, and title sponsor Russell Athletic are hosting the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl this Friday and Saturday.

The competition promises some great matches with the Bowling Green Purples fighting for the 5A Championship. 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.

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, visit our Events section here.

All phone numbers are area code 270 unless otherwise noted.

Ongoing - Nov. 31 Military Appreciation Month, National Corvette Museum, free admission for all military & service personnel, 8am- 5pm, 781-7973, corvettemuseum.org

Ongoing - Dec. 13 Henderson: A Week in the Life of a Kentucky County Exhibit, WKU Mass Media & Technology Hall Gallery, M-F 9am- 5pm, 745-4144

Ongoing - Dec. 22 ArtWorks All Kentucky Juried Exhibition, Thoroughbred Sq. behind Rafferty's, artworksinc.org

Ongoing - Dec. 31 Creating a Barn Quilt: Drakes Creek Middle School Exhibit, SKyPAC Children's Gallery, 904-5000, theskypac.com

Ongoing - Dec. 31 Ed Nash: Terrains Exhibit, SKyPAC Main Gallery, 904-5000, theskypac.com

Ongoing - Dec. 31 Country Music Stars and Cars Exhibit, National Corvette Museum, 8am- 5pm, 781-7973, corvettemuseum.org

Ongoing - Dec. 31 VSA Kentucky Family of Artists, Houchens Gallery at Capitol Arts Center, M-F 11am-6pm, 904-7019, vsartsky.org

27 WKU Trombone Studio Recital, Recital Hall in FAC, 7:30pm, free, 745-7681, wku.edu/music

27 Felt Christmas Ornament Workshop, Riverview at Hobson Grove, 3:30pm, 5$, reservations required, 843-5565

27, 29 and December 2 "2012 Doomsday! Predicting an End, or Just a Cycle?" , WKU Hardin Planetarium, 7pm Tu/Th, 2pm Sun, 745-4044, physics.wku.edu/planetarium

28 WKU Steelband, Recital Hall in FAC, 5:30pm, tickets $7, 745-7681, wku.edu/music

28 NY Times Best-selling Author William Paul Young, Sloan Convention Center, 6pm, 781-4882

29 March of Dimes Signature Chef's Auction, Sloan Convention Center, 6pm, 746-5411, marchofdimes.org/Kentucky

30 Winterfest: A Choral Celebration, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 7:30pm, suggested donations, 745-3751, wku.edu/music

30 Children's Chorus Concert, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 7:30pm, 745-1912, wku.edu/childrensing

30 Holiday Bash 2012, National Corvette Museum, doors open at 5pm, 781-7973, facebook.com/holidaybash2012

30 A Blanket of Bourbon, The Warehouse at Mt. Victor, featuring Peggy Noe Stevens, bourbon tastings, dinner and dancing, $90 ticket, ablanketofbourbon.com

30 Christmas at Shakertown Preview Party, South Union Shaker Village, 7-9pm, 800-811-8379, shakermuseum.com

30-December 2 Winterdance, Van Meter Hall, Friday & Saturday- 8pm, Sunday- 3pm, 745-5845, wku.edu/theatre-and-dance

30-December 2 34th Annual Trees of Christmas, Eloise B. Houchens Center, Open House Nov. 30 at 3pm with food & entertainment, Exhibit open Mon.-Fri. 10am-2pm, Sat. 10am-4pm, Sun. 1-4pm, Craft Show Dec. 7-8 from 9am-3pm, 842-6761

1 Holiday Bazaar, Craft Fair & Pancake Breakfast with Santa Bristow Elementary, 8am-3pm, 842-1960

1 Winter Reading Kickoff Day featuring Walkaround Cookie Monster, WC Public Library Main Branch, 11:30am-4pm, 30-minute meet & greet sessions beginning every half hour, 781-4882, warrenpl.org

1 The Great Toy Event 4K, TRAXrunning at Keriakes Park, 2pm, 904-4348, traxrunning.com

1 Evening with the Isaacs Family, Three Springs Baptist Church, 7pm, 792-3751

1 Holiday Jazz Recital, WKU Music Hall room 103, 7:30pm, free admission, 745-3751

1-2 Southern KY Team Penning Association, WKU Brown Ag Expo Center, 745-3976, wku.edu/expo

1-31 Dollar Days for Kentucky Residents, National Corvette Museum, 781-7973, corevettemuseum.com

2 Boyce Community Christmas Parade, 2:30pm, refreshments and caroling at Boyce General Store, 842-6667

2 Cave Sing, Mammoth Cave National Park, 1:15pm, free admission, 758-2195, nps.org/maca

2 "Celebrating Grace,"First Baptist Church Christmas Program, 7pm, 842-0331, firstbaptist.org

2 and 4 Revusicals, Lab Theatre, WKU Gordon Wilson Hall, Sun. and Tues. at 7pm, free admission, 745-5845, wku.edu/theatre-and-dance

December 4 20th Annual Bowling Green Area Prayer Breakfast, National Corvette Museum

December 6-9 Walk Through Bethlehem, Grace Baptist Church

December 6-9 Little Women, Capitol Arts Center

December 6-16 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, PTK Mainstage Theater, Phoenix Theatre

December 7 Smiths Grove Christmas Parade, "A Small Town Christmas"

December 7 Holiday Pops, The Symphony at WKU, Van Meter Hall

December 7 Trees of Christmas Craft Show, Eloise B. Houchens Center

December 8 Breakfast with Santa, Chaney's Dairy Barn

December 8 State Street Christmas Village, indoor and outdoor vendors

December 8 Nutcracker for Kids, The Symphony at WKU, Van Meter Hall

December 8 Candlelight Christmas Celebration, Riverview at Hobson Grove

December 8 Kids Only Christmas Shopping, Wildflower Gifts at Lost River Cave

December 8-9 18th Annual Bowling Green Woman's Club Christmas Home Tour, multiple homes around town

December 9 Sleigh Rides with Santa, National Corvette Museum

December 13 Tea with Mrs. Claus, Riverview at Hobson Grove

December 14 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, SKyPAC

December 14-15 Madeline's Christmas, WKU Van Meter Theatre

December 15 Breakfast with Santa, Chaney's Dairy Barn

December 15 Caveman Chorus presents "Christmas is Coming", SKyPAC

For a list of all upcoming Holiday Events around Bowling Green, visit our Holiday site at www.visitbgky.com/holiday.