Week of July 1-7

Welcome to our "What's Happening" email, designed to provide you with a glance at opportunities for an unbridled good time in the Bowling Green area.

Independence Day activities are happening everywhere this week, which means it's time for the annual Thunderfest Independence Day Celebration at the National Corvette Museum Amphitheater. Presented by the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club, this family-friendly event is always a favorite. Join the fun on Wednesday, July 4, when the gates open at 4pm.

Live music will be performed by Tyrone Dunne and Kin-Foke, plus there will be a live broadcast from SAM100.7 from 4-6pm. There will be children's acitivites and inflatables, food and drink vendors and a fireworks extravaganza at 9:30pm. Admission is $20 per carload. Wristbands for children's inflatables are $10. No alcohol, coolers or pets are permitted. For a complete schedule of events, please visit the website below.

The Downtown Redevelopment Authority continues the 34th Annual Concerts in the Park series brought to you by BB&T. They're running a new schedule this year. Friday nights in July and August, bands will perform in Fountain Square Park 5:30-8:30pm and in Circus Square Park 8-11pm. The first Concert in the Park kickoff event will include live music from Salvage Town at Fountain Square and Bluelight Special at Circus Square.

All concerts are FREE to the public. Food, beer, soft drinks, and children's activities will be available. Bring a blanket or a chair and come downtown with the family or a friend to enjoy the summer with a smile! For more information call 270-782-0222, visit the Downtown BG site, or click the link below. Photo credit: Marshal Ray

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 7 "Spaceship Earth," Hardin Planetarium show, Tues/Th 7pm, Sun 2pm, 745-4044, wku.edu/hardinplanetarium

Ongoing- July 21 "A Room of Imagination," Capitol Arts Houchens Gallery, M-F 11am-6pm, visitors can touch and participate with the work, 904-5019, theskypac.com

Ongoing- Sept. 13 Marquis of Excellence Exhibit, National Corvette Museum, 14-car exhibit featuring NCRS Top Flight and other pristine Corvettes, winners of the "Marquis of Excellence" awards, 8am-5pm, 781-7973, corvettemuseum.org

Ongoing - December 31 Three Local Artists: Blake Simms, Charlotte Babb and Matthew Simone, Capitol Arts Mezzanine Gallery, M-F 11am-6pm, 904-5019, theskypac.com

July 1-5 Bowling Green Youth Theatre Summer Camp, The Connexion, 9am-5pm, ages 10-12, $100, registration required, 535-3212, artsaliveky.weebly.com

July 1-Aug. 2 Camp Goodtimes, Parker Bennett Curry Community Center, 9am-5pm, ages 5-12, $25/session, 393-3249, bgky.org

July 2 Beaver Tuesday Night Drag/Oval Fun Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, 781-7634, beechbend.com

July 2-3 Bowling Green Hot Rods vs. Dayton Dragons, BG BallPark, fireworks, 901-2121, bghotrods.com

July 3 Thunderfest Independence Day Celebration, National Corvette Museum Amphitheater, 4-11pm, presented by BG Kiwanis, $20/carload, kids under 12 free, inflatables, vendors, activities, bgkiwanis.org/thunderfest

July 4 Barren River Lake 4th of July Celebration, Barren River Lake State Resort Park, 10am-dark, crafts, games, fireworks display, annual Float Your Boat contest, 1-800-325-0057, ky.parks.gov

July 4 Fireworks display, Alvaton Church of Christ, free food served 4:30pm, fireworks at dark, 796-9101

July 4-6 Peach Festival, Jackson's Orchard, peaches, summer apples, ice cream, children's activities, 781-5303, jacksonsorchard.com

July 5- Abraham Lincoln Memorabilia, Kentucky Museum, M-Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm, 745-2592, wku.edu/kentuckymuseum

July 5 Oval Track Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, 6pm, 781-7634, beechbend.com

July 5 34th Annual Concerts in the Park Series, Fountain Square Park Salvage Town concert 5:30-8:30pm, Circus Square Park Blue Light Special concert continues the entertainment from 8:30-11pm, free,bring blankets or chairs, 782-0222, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Concerts-in-the-Park-by-Downtown-BG-and-BBT/322326471178484?fref=ts

July 5-6 Ice Cream & a Moovie, Chaney's Dairy Barn, free admission, "An American Tail" showing starts at dusk, 843-5567, chaneysdairybarn.com

July 5-7 ASA Baseball Qualifier 8U-12U, Buchanon Park, kyasa.org

July 5-7 ASA SP Youth 6U & 8U Championship, Buchanon Park, kyasa.org

July 6 O'Reilly Saturday Night Fun Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, 781-7634, beechbend.com

July 6 Annual Dirt Bowl Tournament- Youth division, Moxley Community Center, 9am-9pm, entry fee $100/team, 393-3249, bgky.org

July 6-7 Annual Dirt Bowl Tournament- Men's division, Moxley Community Center, 6:9am-9pm, 7:1-6:30pm, entry fee $200/team, 393-3249, bgky.org

July 6-8 Bowling Green Hot Rods vs. Lansing Lugnuts, BG BallPark, fireworks night, 901-2121, bghotrods.com

July 7 Southern Kentucky Team Penning Association Show, WKU Ag Expo Center, 10:30am, 745-3976, sktpa.com

July 7 NHRA Drag Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, 781-7634, beechbend.com

July 9- August 25 Night Sky Stories over a Summer Campfire, Hardin Planetarium, 745-0444

July 9 Wes Berry, Warren County Public Library

July 12-13 17th Annual Duncan Hines Festival, downtown BG

July 12-14 KY State Girls Fast Pitch Softball Tournament, Buchanon Park

July 12-14 1st Annual Auto Auction, National Corvette Museum, 300 classic cars

July 12 34th Annual Concerts in the Park Series, Fountain Square Park, Circus Square Park

July 13 Second Saturdays Festival, Downtown at Fountain Square Park

July 13 Kentucky Fried Concert, part of the Orchestra Kentucky Retro Series, SKyPAC

July 14 Shovels & Rope, The Warehouse at Mt. Victor

July 17-19 Bowling Green Hot Rods vs.Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, BG BallPark

July 18 MooShoe 5K Run & Walk, Chaney's Dairy Barn

July 19 34th Annual Concerts in the Park Series, Fountain Square Park, Circus Square Park, 782-0222

July 19-20 Ice Cream & a Moovie, Chaney's Dairy Barn

July 20 "First Class Passenger" Breakfast, South Union Shaker Village

July 20 Cavern Nite Club, Lost River Cave

July 21 Chris Knight & Band, The Warehouse at Mt. Victor

July 21-27 SOKY Fair, Southern Kentucky Fairgrounds at Lampkin Park

For your convenience, a bulletin board of events and a full brochure rack are located on the front porch of the Visitors Bureau if you need information when the main office is closed. The CVB Main Office will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in honor of Independence Day.