The International Festival grew out the 1986 Ethnic Folk Festival, sponsored by the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission and Bowling Green/ Warren County NAACP and the 1988 JapanFest, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

In 1989, the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission and the Chamber of Commerce joined forces to produce Bowling Green's first International Festival.

The first three festivals were held on Memorial Day, but in 1994, it was moved to the fall in an effort to include more Western Kentucky University international students and other schools in the community.

In 1994 the Bowling Green International Festival, Inc. was established as a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization to ensure the continuation of the festival. The festival Board employs an Executive Director to orchestrate the planning of all aspects of the festival through the coordination of community organizations and volunteers.

The organization's mission is:

• To celebrate ethnic and cultural diversity in the region and around the world.
• To educate area residents about the value of the international cultures.
• To promote appreciation of the various international cultures and people within our own community.
• To empower international residents to fully participate in the life of the community.

The festival has dramatically increased the number and variety of performances it offers and attendance has grown to more than 15,000 making it one of the regions premier events. In 2003 the festival was honored as one of Kentucky Tourism's "Top Ten".

The festival is free to the public and funded by sponsorship contributions and fundraisers. The City of Bowling Green and Warren County Fiscal Court have remained the festival's largest sponsors for many years.

The festival is held the last Saturday each September. Affiliated annual events such as a Gallery Walk and a roller skating fundraiser take place in September which is proclaimed "Celebrating International Heritage Month" each year for Bowling Green and Warren County.

Past Executive Directors:

• 2001-present Kim Mason
• 1997-2000 Mark Black
• 1995-1996 Marj Buck
• 1994 Teresa Christmas