Western Kentucky
VisitOwensboro.com; @VisitOwensboro—“Owensboro is a small town with big-city amenities,” says Dave Kirk, who oversees destination management for Visit Owensboro. “We are an authentic small town known for bourbon, barbecue, and bluegrass. We are the ‘Bluegrass Music Capital of the World,’ and are home to Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where event attendees can learn about the music and even take introductory music lessons.” Two city events planners might want to incorporate into their own activities include ROMP, a major bluegrass music festival held every June, and BBQ and Barrels, a bourbon and barbecue festival held in May. Event space at Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum includes a 4,000-square-foot event room and 447-seat theater, with additional outdoor space for 1,500 guests.
Event attendees wishing to extend their stay, with or without family, might enjoy tours and tastings at Green River Distillery; the Friday After 5 concerts, a free, summer-long music series on the waterfront; or Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari, a family-owned theme and waterpark just a 30-minute drive away in Santa Claus, Ind.
The riverfront Owensboro Convention Center has 102,000 square feet of available space, including a 44,000-square-foot exhibition hall, two ballrooms, and a 3,500-square-foot river-view room. The 8,900-square-foot Kentucky Legend® Pier offers a unique space for social events and can seat 610 for banquets.
Adjacent to the center, Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Owensboro/Waterfront has 150 guest rooms and 2,231 square feet of function space, and Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront has 123 guest rooms and meeting space for 80 guests. “Our downtown is safe and walkable with restaurants, bars, breweries, boutiques, and museums,” Kirk says. “Park at your riverfront hotel, and you do not have to get back in your car.”
Other event spaces in the city include a 5,000-seat arena at Owensboro Sportscenter; Hines Center, which can seat 1,000 for dinners; and RiverPark Center, a performing-arts venue with a 1,500-seat auditorium and additional event and banquet spaces to seat up to 300 guests.
