February 17-23

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.

The Sunburst Youth Theatre is opening its latest performance this week, The Barefoot Children in the City of Ward. The city gates are always open, as long as you know the rules. The city is beautiful, but holds a secret. In reality it is the pediatric oncology ward of Nation's Hospital, one of the best pediatric facilities in the world. Join the children as they invite you into a world of their imagination that is sure to make you believe in the magic and strength of a child's spirit.

The youth theatre program runs February 20 through March 2 with varying showtimes at the Phoenix Theatre. For ticket information and individual showtimes, please call 270-781-6233 or check out the website below.

It's time for a celebration of chocolate. The annual Hospice Chocolate Festival is this Sunday at Sloan Convention Center. As local venders, volunteers, churches and restaurants display their culinary arts and rich chocolate displays, the event raises over $20,000 in hospice funds.

Local celebrities of all ages compete in the front stage cookie eating contest followed by the signature silent auction. From chocolate fountains to chocolate covered espresso beans, the festival proves to be a rich chocolate lovers dream. Tickets are $12/adults and $6/kids ages 6-12. The doors open at 2pm, but $25 VIP tickets get you in an hour earlier. For more information, please call 270-782-3402 or visit the website below.

Ongoing- Feb. 22 Uncommon Wealth Exhibit, SKyPAC Main Gallery, works by Ky. artists, 270-904-5015, theskypac.com

Ongoing- Feb. 23 Working: A Musical, SKyPAC, presented by Kentucky Stages, 270-904-1880, theskypac.com

Ongoing- March 1 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Exhibit, SKyPAC Children's Gallery, featuring works of Kentucky teen artists, 270-904-5015, theskypac.com

Ongoing- March 6 "Back to the Moon for Good," WKU Hardin Planetarium, Tues/Th 7pm, Sun 2pm, 270-745-4044, wku.edu/planetarium

Ongoing- April 3 VSA arts Bowling Green Side by Side Exhibition, Kentucky Museum, 270-745-6080, wku.edu/kentuckymuseum

Ongoing- May 4 GPS Adventures Exhibit, National Corvette Museum, get lost in a GPS maze and learn geocaching, 270-781-7973, corvettemuseum.org

Ongoing- May 31 Alejandro Sala Torres art exhibit, Capitol Arts Mezzanine Gallery, 904-5000, theskypac.com

February 17 Faculty Recital with Mark Berry, FAC Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free, wku.edu/music

February 18 Kentucky author Joe Cox, Warren County Public Library, 6pm, free, 270-781-4882, warrenpl.org

February 19-22 Duck Duck Goose Spring/Summer Sale, Potter Children's Home Gymnasium, 10am-8pm, 270-779-5307, dkdkgoose.com/bowlinggreen/

February 20- March 2 The Barefoot Children in the City of Ward, Sunburst Youth Theatre of Kentucky, Phoenix Theatre, 270-781-6233, ptkbg.org

February 20 Faraway Places Series: "Tangier Island: A Chesapeake Bay Treasure," with Katherine Pennavaria, Barnes & Noble, 7pm, free, 270-745-6121, wku.edu/library

February 20 Bowl for Kids Sake, Southern Lanes, 4-10pm, benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters, 270-781-1180, bbbsky.com

February 20 Stringing with Christie, Gallery 916, 6:30-8:30pm, jewelry creation, $20, bring your own beads, 270-843-5511, gallery916.net

February 20 Bourbon Dinner, 440 Main, 6:30pm, guest Jimmy Russell of Austin Nicholas Distillery, dinner, $60/person, space limited, includes Wild Turkey Rare Breed, 10 Year Russell Reserve, Kentucky Spirit, American Honey, 270-793-0450, 440main.com

February 20 Pokey Lafarge with The Deslondes, Warehouse at Mt. Victor, 7pm, $35/ticket, 270-904-6677, thewarehouseatmtvictor.com

February 21 WKU Faraway Flix Series: "Whale Rider," WKU Faculty House, 6:30pm, film from New Zealand, free food, wkuu.edu/library/farawayflix

February 21 WKU Cultural Enhancement Series: Dr. Cornel West, WKU Van Meter Auditorium, 7:30pm, free, wku.edu/culturalenhancement

February 21 Sundy Best, The Warehouse at Mt. Victor, 6pm, $25/ticket, 270-904-6677, thewarehouseatmtvictor.com

February 21 WKU Baseball vs. UNC Asheville, Nick Denes Field, 3pm, 1-800-5-BIG RED, wkusports.com

February 21-22 Maple Syrup Festival, Federal Grove Bed & Breakfast, 270-847-9971, federalgrove.com

February 21-23 WKU Softball-Hilltopper Spring Fling, Buchanon Park, 1-800-5-BIG RED, wkusports.com

February 22 Block & Bridle Winter Classic, WKU Ag Expo Center, 8am, entry fee $30/head by Feb 7, entry fee $50/head, wku.edu/agriculture/documents/previewshow2014.pdf

February 22 All Aboard Series: Cabooses, Historic Railpark & Train Museum, 8:30am, free, presented by Jamie Dennis, 270-745-7317, historicrailpark.com

February 22 Bowl for Kids Sake, Southern Lanes, 9am-4pm, benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters, 270-781-1180, bbbsky.com

February 22 WKU Men's Basketball vs ULM, E.A. Diddle Arena, 7pm, 1-800-5-BIG RED, wkusports.com

February 22 The Church Basement Ladies, SKyPAC, 7:30pm, 270-904-1880, theskypac.com

February 22 WKU Baseball vs. UNC Asheville, Nick Denes Field, 2pm, 1-800-5-BIG RED, wkusports.com

February 22 WKU Women's Basketball vs. ULM, E.A. Diddle Arena, 1-800-5-BIG RED, wkusports.com

February 22 Folk School: Basket Makers Catalogue: Weaving, $10/one woven heart and bring home materials for 2 more, Community Farmers Market, communityfarmersmarketbg.com

February 22 Spring Workshop: Mixed Media, Kentucky Museum, Mixed Media with Lynne Ferguson, 9am-1pm, $30/members, $35/non-members, 270-745-2594, wku.edu/kentuckymuseum

February 23 Bowl for Kids Sake, Southern Lanes, 1-4pm, benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters, 270-781-1180, bbbsky.com

February 23 Hospice Chocolate Festival, Sloan Convention Center, 2-5pm, $12/adults, $6/kids 6-12, $25 VIP tickets, over 30 crafts and vendors, live music, celebrity cookie-eating contest, silent auction, free kids games, hospicesoky.org

February 23 WKU Baseball vs. UNC Asheville, Nick Denes Field, 1pm, 1-800-5-BIG RED, wkusports.com

February 24-25 Rock of Ages, SKyPAC, theskypac.com

February 27- March 2 The Secret Garden, SKyPAC, theskypac.com

February 27- March 4 Mardi Gras 2014, 440 Main, 440main.com

February 28 Idea Festival, WKU Downing Student Union, www.ideafestivalbg.com

February 28- March 2 Home Expo 2014, Sloan Convention Center, bascky.com

March 1 Test & Tune Drags, Beech Bend Raceway, beechbend.com

March 1 L&N Railroad Luncheon, South Union Shaker Village, shakermuseum.com

March 1- April 5 US Bank Celebration of the Arts Exhibition, Kentucky Museum, wku.edu/kentuckymuseum

March 3 Reel Piano Music feat. Michael Chertock, SKyPAC, orchestrakentucky.com

March 5 Happy Gas Improv Troupe, Phoenix Theatre, ptkbg.org

March 8 Test & Tune Drags, Beech Bend Raceway, beechbend.com

March 8 Spring Workshop: Basket Making, Kentucky Museum, Easter Basket with Lynne Ferguson, wku.edu/kentuckymuseum

March 8-9 USA Olympic Fast Pitch Softball Team Clinic, Buchanon Park, kyasa.org

March 9 NHRA Drag Racing, Beech Bend Raceway, beechbend.com

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.