Free things to do in Bowling Green: Hardin Planetarium shows, free movies at The Capitol, Fountain Row Fridays, city parks and greenways, and WKU's white squirrels.

Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Facts come from each venue’s own page, the City of Bowling Green and the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s free day guide (June 2026). Free admission can change for special exhibits and events; check before you go.

Plenty of Bowling Green costs nothing: a planetarium with free shows three times a week, free movies in a historic theater, free concerts downtown most Fridays from spring to fall, and miles of greenways. Here is the list.

Free this season

Museums and indoor picks

  • Hardin Planetarium, Western Kentucky University, 1501 State St.: free public shows on astronomy, space and history at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 2 p.m. Sundays; interactive exhibits are open during university hours (listing). 270-745-4044.
  • Free movies at The Capitol, 416 E. Main Ave.: the library-run historic theater shows free films through the year with no tickets needed, from family favorites to cult classics (movies). 270-904-6040.
  • The Kentucky Museum, 1444 Kentucky St., on the WKU campus: south central Kentucky’s art, history and culture, including the “Sonic Landscape” exhibit on the region’s musicians, listed in the visitors bureau’s free day guide. 270-745-2592.
  • Aviation Heritage Park, 1825 Three Springs Road: eight military aircraft and exhibits on local aviators, also in the bureau’s free guide; check its website for open cockpit days. 270-421-4885.
  • The Downing Museum and Baker Arboretum, 4801 Morgantown Road: the art of Joe Downing and gardens of conifers, Asian maples and sculpture on the city’s edge. 270-842-7415.
  • Warren County Public Library: story times, LEGO Club, yoga and more at its branches (events).

Free music and festivals

  • Fountain Row Fridays: free live music on Fountain Square, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Fridays; in 2026 the series ran May to June and August to September.
  • Concerts in the Park: free Friday night concerts at Circus Square Park in summer, with food trucks.
  • Bowling Green International Festival: the last Saturday in September at Circus Square Park.
  • Duncan Hines Days: a week of free events in early June.
  • Downtown BGKY Harvest Festival: free kids’ activities, music and the trolley loop in October.

Outdoors

  • City parks and greenways: about 30 parks and facilities, including the Riverwalk, disc golf at Kereiakes and Preston Miller parks, the skate park at Roland Bland Park and the BikeWalkBG greenways. See our parks and trails guide and walking and biking trails guide.
  • Lost River Cave trails and playscape, 2818 Nashville Road: the nature trail past the valley’s blue holes and the Nature Explore Playscape are free, the visitors bureau says; the boat tour is paid.
  • Hills Bark Park, 850 Cave Mill Road: the city’s fenced dog park. See our dog-friendly guide.
  • White squirrels on the WKU campus: most of the town’s white squirrels live on the campus, the bureau says; spring brings the cherry trees into bloom.
  • Fountain Square Park: the 1872 square, its fountain and the Heritage Walk plaques. See our downtown guide.
  • Mammoth Cave National Park, northeast of town: day hikes and dark-sky stargazing. Cave tours are ticketed (National Park Service).

Free tastings for adults

  • Purple Toad Winery and Distillery, 6245 Cemetery Road: free tastings of eight wines and three spirits, the visitors bureau says. 270-554-0010.
  • Balance Distilling Company, 3558 Will Bohannon Road, Smiths Grove: tastings and tours on Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Almost free

  • Jackson’s Orchard, 1280 Slim Island Road: no charge to visit the grounds, with a playground pass for the day for a small fee (Jackson’s Orchard).
  • Flea Land of Bowling Green, 1100 Three Springs Road: free photos with Santa on Sundays from Nov. 29 to Dec. 20.

Frequently asked questions

What is free to do in Bowling Green, Kentucky?

Free public shows at WKU’s Hardin Planetarium, free movies at The Capitol, free Fountain Row Friday concerts on Fountain Square and Concerts in the Park at Circus Square, library programs, and the city’s parks, greenways and dog park.

Is the Hardin Planetarium free?

Yes. Its public shows are free at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, at 1501 State St. on the WKU campus. Call 270-745-4044.

Does The Capitol show free movies?

Yes. The Capitol, 416 E. Main Ave., runs free movie series through the year with no tickets needed; in October 2026 it showed Halloween films almost every week.

Where can I see the white squirrels in Bowling Green?

Most of Bowling Green’s white squirrels live on the Western Kentucky University campus, the visitors bureau says, and some can be found in other pockets of town.