Shake Rag Festival celebrates history, community in Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – The Shake Rag Festival brought people together Saturday to celebrate the history and community of Bowling Green’s historic Shake Rag neighborhood.

Festival organizer Shalana Page said the event is about making sure the neighborhood’s history continues to be remembered and shared with future generations.

“This community is important because it’s history behind it. But it’s still alive and thriving today, so it’s something that needs to be celebrated and not forgotten,” Page said.

Page said preserving that history is especially important for younger generations.

“It’s something that shouldn’t be erased. It is something that we need to teach our younger generation because it needs to be known,” she said.

The festival also served as an opportunity for people from throughout the community to come together.

“This is community engagement. Bringing everybody from all walks of life together just to celebrate as one. Just to be together,” Page said.

For those who remember Shake Rag’s past, the festival also offered a chance to reflect on the neighborhood’s history.

“You can just step back and reminisce and tell the old stories of what used to happen,” Page said. “I feel like it’s being celebrated.”

The Shake Rag Festival continues to bring the community together while keeping the neighborhood’s history alive.