The Bluegrass Legends Experience will return to Owensboro August 15-17, bringing together a national lineup of high-performance vehicles, family-friendly entertainment, and charitable giving — all in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The event is hosted at Moreland Park and the Owensboro Sportscenter. Jimmy Allen and his wife Janie Rhoades, who owns Bluegrass Biker News Motorsports/Music/Events, coordinate and promote the show.
Allen said this year’s show is set to be the biggest yet, featuring more than 800 classic cars, motorcycles, trucks, rat rods, and — for the first time — National Pro Street cars from across the country.
“We’re bringing in high-performance Pro Street cars from as far as Florida, Missouri, North and South Carolina, Iowa, and all over the Midwest,” Allen said. “This is the biggest lineup we’ve ever had.”
The event kicks off on August 15 with a cruise-in at Moreland Park from 5-9 p.m., featuring local favorite Yellow Banks Band on the Garza Law Firm Stage. Meanwhile, BLOWN Mafia, a Charlotte-based group known for showcasing high-powered street-legal cars, will host a National Pro Street cruise-in from 8-11 p.m. in the Lowe’s parking lot, with vehicles cruising up and down Frederica Street.
August 16 marks the main car show day. Vehicle registration runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a $25 entry fee, with 100% of proceeds going directly to St. Jude. The park officially opens to the public at 9 a.m., offering free admission, food trucks, vendors, swap meet booths, and music from DJ Brian Akin of Akin 1 Promotions. The day wraps up with a live performance by the Last Call Band from 6-9 p.m. on the park stage.
A special moment is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, when Katie Field, mother of a St. Jude patient, will share her family’s journey. Her daughter, Charlotte, is a 4-year-old brain cancer survivor and the event’s honorary “St. Jude Angel.”
“Her story reminds us why we do all this,” Allen said. “It’s about cars, yes, but it’s also about community, compassion, and giving.”
On August 17, the day begins at 10 a.m. with an open-air church service led by Rev. Alan Brock, a nationally traveling motorsports minister. The final day includes more vehicle displays, music, and the awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m. inside the Owensboro Sportscenter, where more than 200 awards will be presented. Vendors and food trucks will close at 5 p.m., with the event grounds officially closing around 6:30.
Now in its third year under the “Bluegrass Legends” banner, the show originated from the Rhoades’ passion for motorsports and charitable work. The broader Bluegrass Biker News initiative began in 1999 as a way to support nonprofit events through event promotion and community building.
“This started as my wife’s dream to help charities raise more through motorsports,” Allen said. “We’ve grown it into something that gives back in a big way — and it keeps getting bigger.”
Allen said last year’s event attracted more 10,000 spectators, and he expects to surpass that this year. The 2024 event is made possible through major sponsorships from Don Moore Automotive Group and Hyundai, along with support from Brian Tooley Racing, CaNe Customs, West Kentucky Yard Barns, AmVets Post 75, Window World, and O’Reilly Auto Parts.
The weekend will also be covered by ScottyDTV, a nationally recognized motorsports media outlet with over 250,000 YouTube subscribers, providing national exposure for the Owensboro-based event.
“Our long-term goal is to make this a nationally recognized motorsports weekend, like what Owensboro used to have in the ’80s,” Allen said. “We’re on our way.”
