There’s still a long way to go before we get back to some sense of normalcy, but with 2021 officially underway we can start to turn attention to what events we can (hopefully) look forward to this year.
Here’s a list — it’s not all-encompassing, but a good start — of what is expected to return in 2021, in no particular order:
Owensboro Air Show (Aug. 13-15)
There have already been some major announcements for the 2021 Owensboro Air Show. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels Demonstration Team will be back to headline the event, while the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team will also perform — and both will showcase their own fighter jets.
Romp (June 23-26)
The iconic bluegrass festival will return to Yellow Creek Park this year, with the dates set for June 23-26. The 2020 ROMP Festival — which would have been the 17th year of the event — was postponed indefinitely last April, and it was officially delayed until 2021 in June.
Friday After 5 (Starting May 21)
FA5 are eagerly anticipating the return of the free summer concert series, as they have big plans for their 25th anniversary season. By adding the Holiday Inn Riverfront to the official venue lineup, music and community events can be enjoyed for an entire mile, from one end of the Riverfront walkway to the other.
Owensboro Hydrofair (Aug. 20-22)
Owensboro hasn’t hosted a hydroplane race in more than 40 years. The Hydrofair is expected to bring people from all over the country to downtown Owensboro to see G-force speeds and fast-paced excitement on the Riverfront.
All American 4th of July Fireworks
Though the multi-site format used to conduct this year’s fireworks show was deemed a success, city officials have said they still want to bring back the thrill of the downtown event. They’ve discussed the idea of somehow merging a big Riverfront celebration with other sites.
Christmas Parade (November)
Officials held out as long as they could before having to cancel the 2020 parade. They plan to be back in 2021 to host one of Owensboro’s premiere downtown events.
Dust Bowl (July)
The Dust Bowl has been a mainstay in Owensboro for nearly half a century, but the court at Kendall-Perkins Park remained empty in 2020. The tournament slated for the third week of July annually features divisions for all ages and brings people from all walks of life together for some high-octane basketball.
Owensboro Convention Center
Though they’ve still been able to host some events in limited capacities, there’s quite a bit on deck for 2021. Coming up this month will be a cornhole tournament, but the Convention Center will also bring back trade shows, OMGcon!, and numerous other events for people of all ages.
The Great Race (June 23)
One of the most famous car races in the nation will be making an overnight stop in Owensboro on June 23. The Great Race, the world’s premier old-car rally, will bring 120 of the world’s finest antique automobiles to town.
PorchFest (June)
Over the first two years, Owensboro’s PorchFest experienced rapid growth. Event officials expected to have 45 acts participate on 15 porches in 2020. When the music festival returns this year, it will likely draw thousands of people back to Griffith Avenue.
Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden had to get creative for their annual “Dazzling Daylilies Festival,” instead offering spaced-out outdoor events. They’ll look to return to a more traditional festival this year. The Garden is also working toward a grand new entrance after purchasing the WeatherBerry, a historic home on Second Street that will become the nonprofit’s new visitor center.
Energy on Ice
The outdoor synthetic ice skating rink — called “Energy on Ice” — that was set to open in downtown Owensboro this winter is expected to open in winter 2021. The rink will be the main attraction for the new Winter Wonderland, an annual event that used to be held in Owensboro.
International Bar-B-Q Festival (May)
The International Bar-B-Q Festival was established in 1979 and 2020 was the first year in the event’s history that it had been canceled. Attendance has declined in recent years, but it still draws thousands of families to downtown Owensboro annually.
Apple Festival (October)
Reid’s Orchard didn’t bet to celebrate it’s 35th Apple Festival in 2020. The first Apple Festival had about 20 craft booths and a handful of food booths, but more than 3,000 people attended. It has since grown to draw a crowd of more than 25,000 people annually.
Daviess County Lions Club Fair (July)
Attendance dipped in 2019, but still more than 7,000 people attended the fair. That year’s event featured the annual fireworks show, as well as new additions such as pony rides and a petting zoo that catered more to families.
RiverPark Center
RPC has quite a variety of offerings for 2021. They will perform a series of 10 “Interactive Film Experiences” — starting with “Elf” at 7 p.m. today — that will give the audience the chance to throw their theatre etiquette out the window. Also on tap this year are shows including Ted Nugent, Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular, and Lonestar — as well as events such as The Dinosaur Quest of Dr. T-Rex for children.
