Saturday, September 26, 2026
BGIF by SOCU
#bgifbysocu

September 28, 2024  34th 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: Ashley Scott|  Festival Photographer – BJ Jordan

Poster Contest Winners: Judged – Best in Show:  High School –  1st – Camille, grade 9 | Warren Central High School, Teacher: Alice Orange; 2nd –Ahmedina, grade 12 | Warren Central High School, Teacher: Alice Orange ; 3rd –Sawda, grade 9 | Bowling Green High School, Teacher: Hillary Williams ; Middle School – 1st – Riya, grade 7 | Drakes Creek Middle School; 2nd – Mary, grade 6 | Cumberland Trace Elementary, Teacher: Callie Spires; 3rd – Kenia | Teranga; Elementary School – Elliot, grade 4 | Briarwood Elementary School, Teacher: Sarah Anderson; 2nd – Olivia, grade 3 | Lost River Elementary; 3rd – Chloe, grade 4 | Briarwood Elementary School, Teacher: Sarah Anderson; People’s Choice Awards – High School PC – Kaiden, grade 10 | Warren Central High School, Teacher: Alice Orange; Middle School PC – Ady, grade 6; Elementary School PC – Elliot, grade 4 | Briarwood Elementary School, Teacher: Sarah Anderson. 

Lessons & participating instructors: Latin Ballroom by SoKY Dance Arts of Bowling Green • Indian dance by Soma’s Belles of Bluegrass • Zimbabwe Dance & Mbira by Mbira dza Maungira • Samoan Dance by Teine O Samoa • Persian Gulf dance by Arabesque World Dance

La Gala Ballroom (Indoor) [host: Kelsey Tullis]

  • 10:00-10:30 SoKY Dance Arts of BG – Latin Ballroom
  • 10:45-11:15 Teine O Samoa – Samoan Dance
  • 11:30-12:00 Mbira dza Maungira – Zimbabwe Dance & Mbira
  • 12:15-12:45 SoKY Dance Arts of BG – Latin Ballroom
  • 1:00-1:30 Teine O Samoa – Samoan Dance
  • 1:45-2:15 Arabesque World Dance – Persian Gulf dance / bellydance
  • 2:30-3:00 Soma’s Belles of Bluegrass – Indian dance
  • 3:15-3:45 Arabesque World Dance – Persian Gulf dance / bellydance
  • 4:00-4:30 Mbira dza Maungira – Zimbabwe Dance & Mbira

Featured Performers: Academy of Flamenco Arts • Arabesque World Dance & Troupe Banat Nawaar • Armin Hasanagic & Friends • AruMaru Martial Arts • Burma Nationals Organization • CAREUSTZ • Colin Grant-Adams • Guerreros Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dancers • Halfway Home • Jeff Manning • Luz de Mexico • Mbira dza Maungira • Rachana Pasupuleti • Roux du Bayou Cajun Zydeco Band • Sankofa African Drum and Dance Company • Seefari • SoKY Dance Arts of Bowling Green • Soma’s Troupe/ Belles of Bluegrass • Sreshta Meduri, SLB KK • Teine O Samoa • Tropic Society • Tuatha Dea • Veracruz Folklórico • WKU Chinese Music Club • Yeli Ensemble • Zomi Community

Stage Schedules

Diversity Stage [host: Sadie Jeannette/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
  • 9:00-10:00 Roux du Bayou Cajun Zydeco Band – Cajun French South Louisiana
  • 10:10-11:15 Tuatha Dea – Tribal Celtic
  • 11:25-11:40 Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam Classical Indian Dance
  • 11:45-12:20 Academy of Flamenco Arts – Flamenco
  • 12:30-1:30 Tropic Society – Caribbean/Brazilian Fusion
  • 1:40-2:40 Yeli Ensemble – Traditional Music & Dance from the Mali Empire
  • 2:45-3:05 Careustz – African / Afghanistan dance fusion
  • 3:15-4:30 Seefari – classic reggae with dub, rock, jazz, Latin & African
  • 4:31-4:45 Jeff Manning – Scottish Bagpipes
  • 4:47-6:00 Tuatha Dea – Tribal Celtic

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

  • 9:00-9:30 Guerreros Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dancers – Mexican Aztec drum & dance
  • 9:32-10:00 Mbira dza Maungira – Zimbabwean Mbira
  • 10:05-10:20 Sreshta Meduri, SLB KK – Indian Kuchipudi Dance
  • 10:22-10:30 Teine O Samoa – Samoan Dance
  • 10:35-11:00 Halfway Home – Celtic
  • 11:01-11:15 Jeff Manning – Scottish Bagpipes
  • 11:16-12:31 Colin Grant-Adams – Scottish Singer/Songwriter
  • 11:16-1:41 Armin Hasanagic & Friends – Bosnian Folk
  • 1:46-2:16 Academy of Flamenco Arts – Flamenco
  • 2:18-2:26 Teine O Samoa – Samoan Dance
  • 2:36-3:06 Sankofa African Drum and Dance Company – African Drums and Dance
  • 3:11-3:51 Burma Nationals Organization – Ethnic Burmese Dances
  • 3:55-4:10 Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam Classical Indian Dance
  • 4:12-4:20 Teine O Samoa – Samoan Dance
  • 4:22-4:50 Arabesque World Dance & Troupe Banat Nawaar – Traditional & Modern Dances of Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey & Saudi Arabia
  • 5:00-6:00 Yeli Ensemble – Traditional Music & Dance from the Mali Empire

World Performance Area [Erika Brady/Lindsey Production Group] 

  • 9:00-9:20 SoKY Dance Arts of Bowling Green – Latin Dance
  • 9:22-9:37 AruMaru Martial Arts – South Korean Taekwondo
  • 9:40-10:15 Burma Nationals Organization – Ethnic Burmese Dances
  • 10:17-10:37 Careustz – African / Afghanistan Dance Fusion
  • 10:39-11:09 Arabesque World Dance & Troupe Banat Nawaar – Traditional & Modern Dances of Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey & Saudi Arabia
  • 11:11-11:31 Luz de Mexico – Mexican Dance
  • 11:33-11:48 Zomi Community – Zomi Music & Dance
  • 11:50-11:54 Veracruz Folklórico – Veracruz Dance
  • 11:56-12:11 Sreshta Meduri, SLB KK – Indian Kuchipudi Dance
  • 12:13-12:21 Teine O Samoa – Samoan Dance
  • 12:25-12:55 Arabesque World Dance & Troupe Banat Nawaar – Traditional & Modern Dances of Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey & Saudi Arabia
  • 12:57-1:27 Sankofa African Drum and Dance Company – African Drums and Dance
  • 1:30-1:55 SoKY Dance Arts of Bowling Green – Latin Dance
  • 2:00-2:20 Luz de Mexico – Mexican Dance
  • 2:22-2:26 Veracruz Folklórico – Veracruz Dance
  • 2:36-3:06 Guerreros Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dancers – Mexican Aztec drum & dance
  • 3:13-3:55 Colin Grant-Adams – Scottish Singer/Songwriter
  • 4:00-4:05 Soma’s Belles of Bluegrass – Dance of India
  • 4:07-4:22 Zomi Community – Zomi Music & Dance
  • 4:25-4:55 WKU Chinese Music Club – Traditional Chinese instruments
  • 5:00-5:28 Mbira dza Maungira – Zimbabwean Mbira
  • 5:30-6:00 Guerreros Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dancers – Mexican Aztec drum & dance

Film:

PBS Documentary Double Feature:
WKU Public Media presents a double feature in celebration of the Bowling Green International Festival.

Join us for two short documentaries depicting the unique journies and experiences of recent immigrants to the United States.

  • 12:00p: Fleeing to Flyover Country
  • 12:30p: Living the American Dream

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: Accurate Personnel LLC, Tyson Foods Inc, WNKY

Ambassador: AARP KY, 7Mtn – WBVR, AT&T, Daily News, La Gala, WDNS/WKCT

Diplomat: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, Graves Gilbert Clinic, Perdue, 7Mtn – WUHU, 7Mtn – WYLE, Med Center Health, Smith Brothers/ Budweiser

Humanitarian: Warren County Fiscal Court, Atmos Energy , Coldwell Banker Legacy Real Estate Groups, Gaunce Management Inc.,Sumitomo, 7Mtn – WBGN, City of BG

Delegate: Topura, BG Convention & Visitors, English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP, Houchens Food Group, Oak Tree Awards, Storage Sense

Trustee: Be Happy Yoga & Salt Cave, The Pots Place, BGMU, Charles M. Moore Insurance Agency Inc.

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 • Abby’s International African Market • Almadina International Market • Anna’s Greek Restaurant • Awaken Bakery • Azzip Pizza • Big Al’s Hot Damn Chicken (mobile) • Blaze Pizza • Bruster’s Real Ice Cream • Burger and Bowl • California Street Tacos (mobile)• Charcoles BBQ (mobile) • Con Con’s • Curtis BBQ (mobile) • Doug’s Motor City • El Maguey Mexican Restaurant • El Mazatlan • Geno’s Italian Deli • Gerard’s 1907 Tavern • GiGi’s Cupcakes • Ichiban Japanese Steak House (Cave Mill Rd) • K&L Asian Restaurant • Local Taco • Long John Silver’s / A&W • Los Mariachis • Maki Sushi & Teriyaki (mobile) • Mancino’s Grinders & Pizza • Mario’s Pizza (mobile) • Mellow Mushroom • Mercadito Hispano • Mister B’s Pizza & Wings • Novo Dolce 2.0 • Papa John’s #37 & #38 • Peppers Roasted Sweet Corn (mobile) • Po-boy me plzz LLC (mobile) • Poke Fresh • Pub by Novo • Puerta Vallarta • Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard • Samurai Hibachi and Sushi • Simply Ramen • Speeza • Stakz Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt • Sud Kivu International Market • Taqueria el Chaparro’n Mexican Grill (mobile) • Taste of New Orleans (mobile) • Teresa’s Restaurant • Thai Thai Restaurant • The Bistro • The Dog Pen Hotdogs (mobile) • The Mobile Moo (mobile) • The Status Crowe • Toro • Totally Baked Pretzels (mobile) • Trek Coffee Company • Tropical Smoothie Cafe • Tsunami • Wrap & Roll (mobile)

 

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