The free Downtown BGKY Harvest Festival runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, with 300-plus vendors, 100-plus food trucks and an hourly pumpkin drop.

The Downtown BGKY Harvest Festival takes over downtown Bowling Green from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. It is free to attend.

The city holds the festival each October on the Saturday after fall break for the Bowling Green Independent and Warren County public schools. More than 20,000 people came in 2024, according to the city’s Harvest Festival page.

The city’s Downtown BGKY program, Warren County government and the SoKY Center host this year’s event. Houchens Food Group and The Mint Gaming Hall are the presenting sponsors, according to the city’s event listing.

Where everything is

The festival spreads across several downtown sites. The city lists:

  • Fountain Square Park: Fall Fiesta, a celebration of Latino culture with food, entertainment and community groups sharing traditions from across Latin America
  • Circus Square Park: free midway games, first responder and nonprofit booths, kids’ vendors, straw bale play areas and the Pumpkin Drop, held every hour from a Bowling Green Fire Department ladder truck 100 feet up
  • SoKY Center: an all-day vendor market with makers and crafters, plus live music
  • The Downtown Market: more than 300 local crafters, artists and producers across several blocks
  • Food: more than 100 food trucks, along with downtown restaurants and bars

The weather

Saturday will be a big change from this week’s heat. The National Weather Service forecast calls for a mostly sunny day with a high near 60 and a north wind of 8 to 14 mph. Thursday’s high was a record 89 degrees. The low Saturday night is around 36.

What it means for you

  • Bring a jacket. Saturday’s high is nearly 30 degrees below Thursday’s, and the north wind will make it feel cooler.
  • Expect street closures and busy parking downtown. The city had not posted its 2026 closure list or map as of Friday afternoon. Check the city’s announcements page before you leave. Our downtown guide lists the free lots and the parking structure.
  • Time your visit to the Pumpkin Drop. It runs hourly at Circus Square Park.
  • Plan the rest of the weekend with our things to do guide and the Halloween events list.