SoKY’s Choice: Eats and Beats caps off Duncan Hines Days in downtown Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – Live music, local food and family-friendly activities filled Circus Square Park on Saturday as the fourth annual Eats and Beats Music Fest brought Duncan Hines Days to a close.

The free festival featured performances from Kentucky musicians, approximately 25 food trucks, local artists and activities for children throughout the day. Organizers also offered a community mural project and ended the evening with a light show.

“This is a free music festival at Circus Square Park here in downtown where we feature local, or at least kind of Kentucky-area musicians all day,” said Telia Butler, Downtown Development coordinator for the City of Bowling Green. “And we invite local food trucks and artists to participate.”

The event has become a cornerstone of Duncan Hines Days, serving as the week’s culminating celebration while highlighting local talent and downtown Bowling Green.

Butler said the festival allows local performers to showcase their talents on one of the area’s largest outdoor stages while providing an affordable entertainment option for families.

“This is free and accessible to the community,” Butler said. “It’s family friendly. We have a kids zone with inflatables and fun yard games and cool stuff to do, and it’s something that is truly offering a seat for everyone at our downtown community table.”

For organizers and volunteers, one of the highlights was seeing residents embrace the event before it even began.

“It was really cool to see people this morning before the event be super excited about the opportunity to come out tonight, listen to the music, eat some really good food and be in community and fellowship with one another,” said Cayden Lucas, a downtown development intern with the city.

Lucas said the festival reflects Bowling Green’s family-oriented culture, pointing to the mix of live entertainment, local vendors and activities for children in the heart of the city.

Organizers said attendance appeared to be higher than last year’s event. A community impact report detailin