Come, play, stay in Owensboro

AS THE FOURTH-LARGEST CITY IN KENTUCKY,

Owensboro offers an abundance of attractions, events and history that will have visitors looking to make plans to explore the area and stick around.

Weekly summer event Friday After 5 offers family-friendly outdoor entertainment, while the new DownTown Live offers more adult-focused delights. Nearly every week offers a variety of food-focused festivals, fairs, conventions nd shows. The continuation of the highly-anticipated ROMP Festival cements Owensboro as the Bluegrass Music Capital of the World.

Spend some time exploring the quaint and friendly downtwon area overlooking the scenic Ohio River, where live music can often be found during the warmer months. Home to the RiverPark Center — the first performing arts center established in western Kentucky — as well as the Museum of Science and History and the internationally renowned Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, downtown Owensboro has continued to grow and draw visitors from near and far.

Sitting at the edge of Smothers Park is the Owensboro Convention Center, the can’t-miss 102,000-square-foot facility coupled with a 9,000-square-foot outdoor pier, which hosted 16 conventions and attracted more than 8,000 attendees in 2022.

The Owensboro Sportscenter, just minutes from downtown, hosted more than 3,000 fans for each of its live shows in 2022 — including REO Speedwagon and country stars Clay Walker and Tracy Lawrence.

Artist Gary Bielefeld celebrated the completion of what he refers to as his “Sistine Chapel” in October 2022. THE KENTUCKY MIRROR MOSAIC on Second Street welcomes drivers as they cross the Blue Bridge into Owensboro. Bielefeld created the first version of the incredible artwork in 1981.

TAKE A LOOK AROUND

Owensboro has a variety of thouroughfares to wander and areas that host fairs and festivals throughout the year. The Dogwood-Azaela neighborhood offers a dreamlike space for a stroll, while Frederica Street and Hwy 54 offer abundant shopping and restaurant options.

STAY OWENSBORO

Looking for something showcasing local talent? Seek out the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro, which operates from two historic theaters — Trinity Centre and the TWO Empress Theatre.

After exploring all there is to see and hear in Owensboro, visitors will want to explore the city’s wide and ever-growing selection of restaurants and eateries. Find excellent regional staples from spots like Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn or Old Hickory Bar-B-Que, or seek out international fare, either Mexican food at Don Mario’s, a taste of Greece at The Famous Bistro or some fresh flavors at the newlyopened Sassafras.

And when it’s time to rest up for another day in the Bluegrass Music Capital of the World, visitors are warmly welcomed into 12 hotels with more than 1,500 rooms. There is also a variety of Airbnbs to choose from, including one above the Creme Coffee House so visitors can live like a local.

Whether planning activities in advance or on the go, visitors can make use of resources to stay up-to-date on what to expect each and every day with a constantly-updated calendar from Visit Owensboro, the Messenger-Inquirer’s annual Uniquely Owensboro and the the newly-established What Are You Do? Inc.

When it’s time to go, make sure to wave goodbye to the newly-renovated Kentucky mirror mosaic — a landmark to locals for decades, it’ll be there to welcome you back when you come to play and stay in Owensboro again.