Saturday, September 27, 2025
BGIF by SOCU
#bgifbysocu

September 30, 2023  33rd annual celebration

Executive Director: Kim Mason

Board of Directors:  Kayla Bitner (President), Dr. Dawn Winters (Vice President), Franne Jennings (Treasurer), Dr. Leyda Becker (Secretary) Franne Jennings, Clay Smalley, Jr., German Escobar, Hannah Barahona

Community Planners: Amy Milliken • Franne Jennings • Kimberly Nessler • Emma Thomas

Shirt Design: Janie Hunt |  Festival Photographer – BJ Jordan

Poster Contest Winners: Judged – Best in Show:  High School –  1st – Alexa Cax – Grade 9, Greenwood High; 2nd – Ceclia Amorim – Grade 9, Warren Central High; 3rd – Rebekah Redwine – Grade 9, Warren Central High; Middle School – 1st – Aleesha Niyorukundo – Grade 7, Drakes Creek Middle ; 2nd – Temple McDaniel – Grade 7, Warren East Middle ; 3rd –Tristan Sweeney – Moon Academy (homeschool); Elementary School – ; 2nd – Grace Young – Grade 6, Lost River Elementary; 3rd – Shiny Thwai – Grade 6 JCE, Light of Chance, Inc.; People’s Choice Awards – High School PC – by Melkys Lovos, 11th grade Geo International High School & Neh Meh 11th grade, Geo International High School; Middle School PC – by Accember Logsdon, 7th grade Hortons Homeschooling; 

Featured Performers: Academy of Flamenco Arts • Armin Hasanagic, Emsud Delkic & Mensur Mujanovic • Arora’s Bollywood Fusion • AruMaru Martial Arts • Barrenhart • Bhutanese Community • Burma Nationals • Bluegrass Ceili Academy • CARE US TZ • Colin Grant-Adams • Guerreros Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dancers • Halfway Home • Hui Kaululehua • Las Damas • Mbira dzeMaungira • Mizo Dancers • Norma Patricia Serna • Philippine Bluegrass Cultural Dance Group • Rachana Pasupuleti • Ritmos Calientes• Roux du Bayou Cajun Band • Safiya & Troupe Banat Nawaar of Arabesque World Dance • Sankofa African Drum and Dance Company • SOKY Dance Arts Performance Troupe and Dance Ensemble • Sreshta Meduri, SLB KK • Tuatha Dea • WKU Chinese Music Club • Yapa • Zomi Music & Dance

Stage Schedules

Diversity Stage [host: Katelyn Mason/Lindsey Production Group]

  • 8:45-9:00 Opening Ceremony – Awards, recognition for K-12 Poster Contest winners, T-Shirt Designer, BG International Cup soccer tournament awards, Introduction of Presenting Sponsor – Service One Credit Union
  • 9:00-9:50 Roux du Bayou Cajun band – Cajun & Zydeco accordion & fiddle music
  • 9:55-10:10 Zomi Music & Dance – Traditional Zomi Dance
  • 10:20-11:00 Tuatha Dea – Celtic, tribal, Gypsy rock with an Appalachian steampunk edge
  • 11:05-11:20 Norma Patricia Serna – Mariachi songs
  • 11:23-11:38 Las Damas – Traditional Mexican Dance
  • 11:41-12:16 Academy of Flamenco Arts – Flamenco style dance from Argentina, Venezuela, Cuba, Peru
  • 12:19-12:34 Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatnatyam classical dance from India
  • 12:37-1:07 Hui Kaululehua – Indigenous Hawaiian dance
  • 1:12-1:52 Colin Grant-Adams – Traditional & Original Celtic with a touch of old time music 
  • 1:56-2:16 Bluegrass Ceili Academy – Irish Step dancing
  • 2:23-2:53 Halfway Home – Irish Folk, Jigs, Reels & Sea Shanties
  • 3:03-4:13 Yapa – Eclectic mix of Latin America Cumbia and Andean folk music
  • 4:18-4:38 Guerreros Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dancers – Aztec Drums & Dance
  • 4:49-6:00 Tuatha Dea – Celtic, tribal, Gypsy rock with an Appalachian steampunk edge

Heritage Stage [host: Armin Hasanagic/Lindsey Production Group]

  • 9:00-10:00 Ritmos Calientes – Latin fusion band performing Caribbean & Brazilian music
  • 10:05-10:13 Philippine Bluegrass Cultural Dance Group – Filipino dance
  • 10:15-10:45 Safiya & Troupe Banat Nawaar of Arabesque World Dance – Traditional & folkloric bellydance from Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey
  • 10:48-11:18 Hui Kaululehua – Indigenous Hawaiian dance
  • 11:23-11:53 Safiya & Troupe Banat Nawaar of Arabesque World Dance – Traditional & folkloric bellydance from Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey
  • 11:58-12:08 Arpana Lakhmani – Bollywood dance
  • 12:13-12:43 CARE US TZ – African + Afghan dance fusion
  • 12:45-12:53 Philippine Bluegrass Cultural Dance Group – Filipino dance
  • 12:56-1:11 Mizo Dancers – Traditional Mizo Dance
  • 1:14-1:49 Academy of Flamenco Arts – Flamenco style dance from Argentina, Venezuela, Cuba, Peru
  • 1:52-2:22 Sankofa African Drum and Dance Company – African drum & dance
  • 2:32-3:32 Barrenhart – Celtic Bluegrass
  • 3:37-4:22 Colin Grant -Adams – Traditional & Original Celtic with a touch of old time music 
  • 4:26-4:46 Bluegrass Ceili Academy – Irish Step dancing
  • 4:48-5:03 Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatnatyam classical dance from India
  • 5:08-6:00 Armin Hasanagic, Emsud Delkic & Mensur Mujanovic – Bosnian sevdah songs as well as gypsy & folk music from the Balkin region

World Performance Area [Host Lindsey Production Group] 

  • 9:00-9:15 Sreshta Meduri, SLB KK – Kuchipudi Indian dance-drama
  • 9:20-9:50 Guerreros Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dancers – Aztec Drums & Dance
  • 9:53-10:13 Mbira dzeMaungira – Sacred, healing music of the Shona people of Zimbabwe
  • 10:15-10:30 AruMaru Martial Arts – Martial Arts demonstrations
  • 10:32-10:47 Sreshta Meduri, SLB KK – Kuchipudi Indian dance-drama
  • 10:50-11:15 Burma Nationals Organization – Ethnic dance, song, and fashion from the Burmans, Shan, Karen, Chin, Karenni cultures
  • 11:17-11:32 Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatnatyam classical dance from India
  • 11:34-11:42 Philippine Bluegrass Cultural Dance Group – Filipino dance
  • 11:44-11:54 Arora’s Bollywood Fusion – Indian Bollywood Fusion
  • 11:57-12:12 SOKY Dance Arts Performance Troupe and Dance Ensemble – Salsa, Cha Cha, and Mambo ballroom dance
  • 12:14-12:22 Philippine Bluegrass Cultural Dance Group – Filipino dance
  • 12:27-12:57 Sankofa African Drum and Dance Company – African drum & dance
  • 1:03-1:33 Guerreros Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dancers – Aztec Drums & Dance
  • 1:35-2:05 Safiya & Troupe Banat Nawaar of Arabesque World Dance – Traditional & folkloric bellydance from Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey
  • 2:08-2:23 Zomi Music & Dance – Traditional Zomi Dance
  • 2:25-2:40 Norma Patricia Serna – Mariachi songs
  • 2:43-2:58 Las Damas – Traditional Mexican Dance
  • 3:01-3:16 Mizo Dancers – Traditional Mizo Dance
  • 3:19-3:39 Safiya & Troupe Banat Nawaar of Arabesque World Dance – Traditional & folkloric bellydance from Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey
  • 3:41-3:51 Bhutanese/Nepalese – Dance from Bhutan & Nepal
  • 3:56-4:16 WKU Chinese Music Club – Chinese folk songs with traditional Chinese instruments
  • 4:20-4:58 Mbira dzeMaungira – Sacred, healing music of the Shona people of Zimbabwe
  • 5:01-5:31 CARE US TZ – African + Afghan dance fusion
  • 5:33-5:43 Arpana Lakhmani – Bollywood dance
  • 5:45-6:00 SOKY Dance Arts Performance Troupe and Dance Ensemble – Salsa, Cha Cha, and Mambo ballroom dance

Celtic Jams & Karaoke Throughout the day find Celtic Jam Sessions and Karaoke as well as darts and more in the Celtic Nations area.

Children’s Activities [created by Franne Jennings]: 

Booth Hosts:

Cultural Displays: 

Merchandise Booths: 

Food Booths: 

Special Interest Booths: 

Sponsors:

Presenting: Service One Credit Union

Dignitary: BGEMS,  TVA, Tyson, VidMonster Productions, WNKY News 40

Ambassador: AARP KY, Daily News, FC – WBVR, WDNS/WKCT

Diplomat: Bendix, CB-Sam’s, CB-The Point, CB-WOVO, FC – WLYE, FC – WUHU, Smith Brothers

Humanitarian: Gaunce, Houchens, Perdue, Sumitomo, Tractor Supply, Coldwel, Warren Fiscal Court, Walmart, WKU Glia, City of BG, FC – WBGN, Vette City Hotel, Lindsey Prod Group

Delegate: Atmos, ELPO, BGCVB, Topura, Midtown Self Storage

Trustee: Pots Place, Be Happy, BGMU, Imagine Maids, Oak Tree Awards

Hospitality: Country Oven, Krispy Creme, Papa Johns, Jimmy John’s, Zaxby’s, Houchens, Starbucks

SPECIAL THANKS: City of Bowling Green Commission & Mayors Office, Police, Landscape Division, Public Works, Neighborhood and Community Services, Office of Occupational License and Parks & Rec departments • Chuck Evans Liquor • Warren County Attorney’s Office • WKU American Society of Civil Engineers and the many businesses, organizations and individuals who promoted or supported the festival in any way.

Restaurant Card Participants: 2 Amigos Mexican Fast Food • 231 Bar and Grill • 3 Volcanes Mexican Restaurant • A Taste of Europe (mobile) • Anna’s Greek Restaurant • Azzip Pizza • BG Shakery • Big Al’s Hot Damn Chicken (mobile) • Big T’s Bar-B-Cue (mobile) • Bruster’s Real Ice Cream • Burger and Bowl • California Street Tacos (mobile) • Con Con’s • Cuautepec Meat Shop • Curtis BBQ • Doug’s Motor City • El Maguey Mexican Restaurant • El Mazatlan/WK El Maz • Empanadas BG • G Dogs • Garcia’s Grill • Geno’s Italian Deli • Gerard’s 1907 Tavern • GiGi’s Cupcakes • India Oven • K&L Asian Restaurant • Kentacos (mobile) • Ladybugs Fritters and Fries (mobile) • Landon’s Sugar Shack • Late Nite Sweets N Treats • Local Taco • Los Mariachis • Maki Sushi & Teriyaki (mobile) • Mario’s Pizza (mobile) • Mellow Mushroom • Mercadito Hispano • Mi Pueblo Viejo Mariscos • Mister B’s Pizza & Wings • Novo Dolce 2.0 • Oriental SteakHouse • Papa John’s #37 & #38 • Parce Burgers • Peppers Roasted Sweet Corn (mobile) • Po-boy me plzz LLC (mobile) • Poke Fresh • Providence Coffee House & Market Place • Pub by Novo • Puerta Vallarta • Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard  • Samurai Hibachi and Sushi • Shogun Bistro • Simply Ramen • South Cow (mobile) • Speeza • Taste of New Orleans (mobile) • Taqueria el Chaparro’n Mexican Grill (mobile) • Taqueria Los Vazquez • Taqueria Y Birreria Jalisco (mobile) • Taste of New Orleans (mobile) • Teresa’s Restaurant • Thai Thai Restaurant • The Bistro • The Dog Pen Hotdogs (mobile) • The Mobile Moo (mobile) • The Yellow Polka Dot Panini (mobile) • Toro • Totally Baked Pretzels (mobile) • Tropical Smoothie Cafe • Tsunami • Wrap & Roll (mobile)

 

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