Friday After 5 has wrapped up for the year, but live music and family fun are still going strong downtown thanks to the weekly Fam Jam Street Dance series. The event includes picnic tables, giant yard games, family-friendly activities, and a stage for live performances.
The event will continue to take over 2nd Street from Allen to St. Ann every Friday from 6-9 p.m. through October 10.
“This is really our neighborhood’s block party,” said Andy Brasher, co-owner of Brasher’s Lil’ Nashville and an organizer of Fam Jam. “We want people to come enjoy it, and also to see that we’re here year-round, not just during a festival.”
Ben Skiadis with Famous Bistro said Fam Jam’s inaugural run last year kept drawing crowds into the fall season, and he hopes this year will be no different.
“Last year, we went longer than Friday After 5 did, and I don’t think it slowed down. If anything, it got better,” Skiadis said. “We’ve had great weather lately, and there’s no shortage of talent coming up in the next few weeks.”
Organizers have also tied Fam Jam into other downtown happenings, including the September 5 Billy Strings concert at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the Illuminate Owensboro celebration in early October, and Blocktoberfest later in the fall.
“It’s a little more contained here, and a lot of people say they prefer it to going down to the riverfront and dealing with big crowds,” said Derek Stone of Mellow Mushroom. “It’s a safe, family-friendly space where you can still enjoy live music, food, and drinks.”
Skiadis said the series has been good for both the community and the businesses involved.
“It’s helped our business, absolutely,” he said. “But it’s also been a great example of what happens when we all work together. Hopefully, people start saying, ‘Let’s head downtown and see what’s going on,’ instead of having to ask what the plan is.”
The lineup for the rest of the 2025 season includes:
- Aug. 8 – Monte Skelton
- Aug. 15 – Brad & Scott (The Green Lights)
- Aug. 22 – Scott Ethridge
- Aug. 29 – Matthew Lunsford
- Sept. 5 – Billy Strings Street Party
- Sept. 12 – Dan Hall & Blackford Creek
- Sept. 19 – Lucy Jagoe & Emmie Kate
- Sept. 26 – Jarred Green
- Oct. 3 – Illuminate Owensboro
- Oct. 10 – Cam Thompson
Several businesses offer to-go drinks and outdoor seating. Gavin Roberts Kentucky Farm Bureau has helped fund additions such as a kids’ area and picnic tables. Skiadis said Carbliss is also a key sponsor of the event.
