History

The history of the Bowling Green International Festival begins with the 1986 Ethnic Folk Festival, sponsored by the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission and Bowling Green/ Warren County NAACP and the 1989 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 in Fountain Square Park.

In 1994 the Bowling Green International Festival, Inc. was established as a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization to ensure the continuation of the festival and former Board member Teresa Christmas served as the first executive director.

The Board continues to employee an executive director to orchestrate the planning of all aspects of the festival through the coordination of community organizations and volunteers.

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 and 2007 the festival was honored as one of Kentucky Tourism’s “Top Ten” events.

Along with traditional performances, in 2004 the festival began showcasing artists representing new genres created by the mixing of cultures such as the Afro-Cuban/Hip-Hop/Latin/Punk sounds of Mandorico.

The Bowling Green International Festival moved one block away to the newly created Circus Square Park in 2008. The park features an interactive fountain.