festivals
APPLE FESTIVAL 4818 Kentucky 144 • reidorchard.com Billy and Kathy Reid started the Apple Festival in 1986 as a way to invite the community together to celebrate, educate and provide for one another. That first year, it had 20 craft booths, three rides for the younger children and approximately eight food booths. It has since grown to 100 craft booths, 20 food booths and an entire carnival with 20 rides. The festival has been named a Top 10 event by the Kentucky Tourism Council and a Top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society, which covers 11 states. 16 | GREATER OWENSBORO
CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK 5160 Wayne Bridge Road • daviesscountyparks.com In 2003, Daviess Fiscal Court launched Christmas at Panther Creek, which was then billed as “western Kentucky’s premier holiday lights driving tour.” An estimated 10,000 vehicles, with people from several counties, toured the park. The idea was to familiarize people in the area with where Panther Creek Park is located. There was no admission charge in 2003. Today, admission is $5 a carload. Fiscal Court splits the money received with five nonprofit agencies that collect admission fees each night from the day after Thanksgiving until Jan. 2. In 2020, an estimated 10,000 vehicles drove through the park looking at 500,000 Christmas lights, raising $50,000.