Friday After 5 will host its 23rd season kickoff this weekend in downtown Owensboro. The award-winning free music festival will start at 5 p.m. on May 17, and board member Kirk Kirkpatrick says the night’s theme will be “Nonprofit Night.”
Each year, Friday After 5 encourages local nonprofits to set up informational booths at different venues, and this year is no different, Kirkpatrick said.
“We welcome nonprofits in the community to take part in our activities,” Kirkpatrick said. “This is another way for us to give back to the community.”
Friday After 5’s 23rd season is entitled “Shake, Rattle & Stroll,” and this weekend’s event will feature the band From Paris, which will be playing current and classic rock from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on the Jagoe Homes Patio Stage at the BB&T Plaza located at the RiverPark Center.
Other bands and musicians performing Friday night will include country acoustic singer Hayley Payne, who will be playing from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Atmos Energy Courtyard and The 202nd Army Band Fallout will play rock music at the Kentucky Legend Pier, located at the Owensboro Convention Center, from 8 to 11 p.m.
Kirkpatrick said its encouraging to know that other communities are so supportive of Friday After 5, they’ve even chosen to support the event by becoming sponsors. For example, The Women’s Hospital and Deaconess will sponsor Friday night’s musical event at the Kentucky Legend Pier, and other groups have gotten on board to sponsor venues as well.
“It’s great having that support from organizations from different communities because it allows us to continue offering this event to the community for free,” Kirkpatrick said.
In honor of Friday night’s nonprofit theme, a nonprofit block party will be held at the Kroger Street Fair, where guests can puruse various booths and engage with workers who operate multiple nonprofit organizations throughout Owensboro.
Aside from newly added events such as Glenn’s Movie Night at the Museum, located at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Kirkpatrick said Friday After 5 will be supporting local musicians by offering another new event that features local bands and soloists at the Kentucky Legend Pier each Friday night.
Glenn Funeral Home will be showing Grease for Friday After 5’s first movie night at the bluegrass museum, Kirkpatrick said.
As is customary for the first Friday After 5 of the season, local political leaders from the City of Owensboro will be making the first “toast to the sunset” at dusk.
