Light Up BGKY kicks off with ribbon cutting

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Downtown BGKY started its weeklong holiday lighting tradition Monday with a ribbon cutting at Western Kentucky University’s Cherry Hall.

The holiday events will last through Dec. 3. Keep in mind downtown Bowling Green will not be lit up for several more days, but you can still enjoy plenty of festivities leading up to the lights.

Below is a list of the week’s events:

• Tuesday, Nov. 28: Med Center Health’s Make the Season Bright starts at 6 p.m. with hot chocolate, carols and cookies. The lighting of the Hospitality House begins at 6:30 p.m. at 501 High Street. More information here.
• Wednesday, Nov. 29: Christmas Marketplace from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Riverview at Hobson Grove Historic House Museum. Christmas vendor shopping will take place throughout the museum with free admission. Movies at the Capitol will host It’s a Wonderful Toy Drive. Enjoy a free screening of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at 2 and 6 p.m., where donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted for Hope House’s Affordable Christmas.
• Thursday, Nov. 30: Light Up the Depot at 4 p.m. at the Historic Railpark & Train Museum at 401 Kentucky St. Join the community for the first ever lighting of the L&N depot and railcars, accompanied by a community Christmas choir, police & EMS light show, flag presentation, food trucks and hot chocolate. For the kids, Storytime in the Snow Dome is taking place Thursday at the SOKY Ice Rink at 636 Center St. More information here.
• Friday, Dec. 1: Warren County Courthouse Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. at 429 E. 10th Ave. Christmas on College Street is from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at 1001 College St., where City Hall will reopen for holiday tours for the first time since COVID, offering meet and greets with city officials, chocolates, candy, treats and free 2024 wall calendars. Downtown BGKY Lights Up will happen downtown 5 to 8 p.m., starting with the lighting of SKyPAC’s community Christmas tree at 5:30 p.m. and Fountain Square Park at 6 p.m., along with shopping at the Mistletoe Market and more. More information here.
• Saturday, Dec. 2: See local faces, including members of WNKY News 40, at the BG/WC Jaycees Christmas Parade at 9:30 a.m. through downtown Bowling Green. Details about this and the Mistletoe Market, Christmas in Kentucky and more can be found here.
• Sunday, Dec. 3: Historic Holiday Tour: Christmas on College Hill from 1 to 5 p.m. Details here. The SOKY Ice Rink will also be open from 1 to 9 p.m.