SoKY’s Choice: Eats and Beats hits all the right notes in Downtown Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — The scent of Food Trucks filled the air. Guitars strummed in rhythm with the sound of sneakers walking across the park. On Saturday night, Circus Square Park wasn’t just hosting a festival, it was alive with the heartbeat of Bowling Green.

As part of Duncan Hines Days, the Eats & Beats Music Festival brought together thousands of residents and visitors for an evening of food, music, art, and togetherness under clear skies.

“We have a mix of locals and visitors who have come from as far away as the West Coast, in California and beyond, to come visit us and not just explore today, but visit Bowling Green throughout the week,” said Telia Butler, one of the event’s lead organizers. “And it’s really about bringing the community together and inviting everyone to have a seat and be part of a fun celebration that makes Bowling Green so special.”

With food trucks lined up, live performances on the main stage, and families sprawled across the grass, the event offered something for everyone, from toddlers with balloon swords to day one fans of ‘Government Cheese’, a band that is celebrating 40 years together.

One of the biggest crowd-pleasers wasn’t edible or musical, but visual. A large, collaborative art mural allowed attendees to pick up a brush and leave their mark on the festival.

“They had four murals and I chose to do, different flavors. So sweet, spicy, savory and salty. And I related them to kind of like, what’s the magic of Bowling Green? And that kind of comes down to different aspects of the community.” said Craig Lonas, who helped bring the creative space to life.

For many, though, the magic wasn’t just in the activities; it was in the moments of connection, not only with those they had met before, but also with strangers.

“You know, to have everybody from different places, surrounding counties, different schools, different everything, just right here in one spot, man, just enjoying what’s, you know, what’s most important. Which personally I think it’s family. So that’s what I love about it.” said Richard Newberry, a dad surrounded by his family during the interview

As the night wound down with the final chords from The Josephines and cheers from the crowd, the meaning for Eats and Beats was apparent.

“It’s food. It’s love. It’s the energy of the people,” said Tessa Norris, another organizer of the event. “And when you get together, you want to eat and you want to listen to good tunes. So why not eat some beats at Duncan Hines days of all places?” Butler added.

From first bites to final beats, Eats & Beats was a showing that Bowling Green truly knows how to celebrate together. Duncan Hines Days may be over for this year, but you may be able to sneak a look at what’s in store for next year at DuncanHinesDays.com.