Bowling Green and southcentral Kentucky have a reputation for cultivating our creatives, from the Downing Museum’s dedication to preserving fine art to the local music scene propelling artists to international stages and Grammy nominations. Our artistic achievements have the potential to attract new residents, students, businesses and organizations to our community, but more importantly, how we celebrate our creatives can help us keep these and other bright minds here!
Through the decades, one thing that has been missing is a dedicated arts festival to showcase our homegrown talents. A group of volunteer art enthusiasts began discussing and planning such a festival in 2021 with the hope of bringing literary, folk, theatrical, vocal, music, dance, craft and visual artists from the Bowling Green area together.
We were delighted to introduce the White Squirrel Arts Fest in 2023 and look forward to our 3rd annual festival April 26, 2025. It will be a full day of entertainment, arts activities, artist and author booths, readings, and vendors in downtown Bowling Green’s historic Shake Rag District!
Why the White Squirrel? This part of Kentucky is known for having the highest population of these critters in the state and even inspired the name of BGKY’s first craft brewery! Just like a rare white squirrel’s presence is striking no matter the backdrop, our artists’ works are striking regardless of the medium.
Board of Directors
Emily Hays
Glenda Hepp
Bobbie Falin
Johnalma Barnett
Denise Zelinski
Sean Stevens
Paul Johnson
Alison Lewandowski
Marissa Butler
Ronn Kistler
Deidre Greene
Elaine Walker, Emeritus
White Squirrel Arts Fest 