Entertainment and Attractions
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Curbside Architecture & Historical Homes Tour
Western KY Botanical Garden 270-852-8925This tour offers the opportunity to visit several of Owensboro-Daviess County's remaining gems. Especially suited for groups, spouses programs, and special events of all kinds for out-of-town guests and locals. It is intended to inform and entertain.
Dogwood Azalea Trail
Griffith Avenue AreaWalk the picturesque and beautiful blooming tree-lined boulevards during the last two weeks in April and the first two weeks in May.
Goldie's Best Little Opryhouse in Kentucky
418 Frederica Street 270-926-0254Located in downtown Owensboro, Goldie's Best Little Opryhouse offers shows on Friday and Saturday nights year round. The shows offer a blend of old and new country, comedy, bluegrass, gospel, and old time rock and roll music.
Hall of Fame
215 E. Second Street 270-926-1100 / 800-489-1131Browse through the "Hometown Hero"" Hall of Fame and view the celebrities that have reached national or international acclaim in their field that are from Owensboro and the surrounding regions. You might even see someone you know! This is located in the Owensboro Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Haunts of Owensboro
Downtown Owensboro 270-313-5596Take a walking tour of some of downtown Owensboro's rumored haunted buildings. This 1 1/2 hour tour will cover some of Owensboro's favorite ghost stories and sightings. Sights include Trinity Center, home of Theatre Workshop of Owensboro, the Area Museum of Science & History, the Daviess County Courthouse, and others. Tours begin and end at the Executive Inn Rivermont. Saturdays only. Call for reservations.
International Bluegrass Music Museum
117 Daviess Street 270-926-7891IBMM is the only international museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history, collections, and artifacts of bluegrass music - an exciting, original American art form with its genesis in Kentucky. This completely renovated facility is a state-of-the-art cultural center, paying tribute to the bluegrass pioneers and other legends, enlightening its public and inspiring its future. IBMM is committed to being a Living Museum and serves as the base of operations for numerous arts projects augmenting the public's awareness, acceptance, and love for this original Kentucky art form. They provide an exciting hands-on museum experience complete with live music and clogging for larger tours. Visit new exhibits showcasing photos from the earliest bluegrass music festivals of this nation, and works of art inspried by the folklore traditions and beauty of our music. The museum offers One-Hour Tours including The History of Bluegrass Music, Walk-Through Museum Tours, and Hands-On Mandolin Experience. Three-Hour Tours are also offered.
Mount St. Joseph Conference & Retreat Center
8001 Cummings Road 270-229-0200This is a not-for-profit organization devoted to offering quality programs at affordable prices. Established in 1983 as a corporate ministry of the Ursuline Sisters, Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center is located on the grounds of the Ursuline Sisters' Motherhouse. Located 15 miles west of Owensboro, Kentucky, on Highway 56, the Center is complete with an air-conditioned dining room, conference rooms, and bedrooms. A bookstore, gift shop and guided tours are also offered.
Owensboro Area Museum of Science & History
220 Daviess Street 270-687-2732This museum is one of the finest facilities in the region. This large facility encompasses many adventures, including a unique hands-on exhibit area and displays depicting local history. Also includes the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center or cruise through our motorsports gallery, The Speedzeum, a NASCAR exhibit. Admission is $3 adults/children, $10 family, and special group rate available.
Owensboro Dance Theatre
2705 Breckenridge Street 270-684-9580Owensboro Dance Theatre has provided professional dance instruction and quality performances to the Tri-State area for 25 years. ODT produces two main stage productions each season performed at RiverPark Center in downtown Owensboro. A unique version of the holiday classic, "The Nutcracker", is presented each December, plus an "In Concert" performance in March. Both concerts feature ODT Company and Apprentice Company members, professional guest artists, and community members.
Owensboro Museum of Fine Art
901 Frederica Street 270-685-3181The Owensboro Museum of Fine Art presents traveling exhibitions from major museums, galleries and private collections and rotating exhibitions from the permanent collection. The facility includes two structures listed on the National Register of Historic Sites; a 1909 Carnegie Library and the John Hampden Smith House, a pre-Civil War era mansion which serves as a decorative arts wing. The permanent collection features American, European and Asian fine and decorative arts dating from the 15th century to the present; a stained glass gallery of late 19th and early 20th century German stained glass windows; a collection of comtemporary studio art glass; a major collection of American Folk Art with emphasis on the works of 20th century Appalachian artists and craftsmen; and a collection of works by artists and craftsmen with Kentucky connections from the early 1800's to the present. The Museum Gift Shoppe offers works for sale by regional artists and craftsmen.
Owensboro Symphony Orchestra
211 E. Second Street 270-684-0661The Owensboro Symphony Orchestra is a premier producer of live classical and pops music for the Western Kentucky region. According to the Kentucky Arts Council the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra is among the top twenty Kentucky arts organizations. Under the leadership of Maestro Nicholas Palmer, Executive Director Bill Price, and an active and dedicated Board of Directors. The Owensboro Symphony Orchestra performs over 60 services annually, reaching an estimated audience of over 50,000 per year.
Owensboro's Sassafras Tree
2100 block of Frederica Street (Hwy 431)The largest known Sassafras tree in the world and is approximately 300 years old. The tree measures over 100 feet tall and 21 feet in circumference. A few other sassafras trees are 60 feet or taller, but the average sassafras is 30 to 50 feet tall. The sassafras tree is a pioneer species that can usally be found growing along country roads and in old abandoned fields. The bark, twigs, and leaves of the sassafras are aromatic and pleasant to the taste. Each tree produces three differently shaped leaves: ovate, one-lobed, and three-lobed.
Reid's Orchard
4812 Hwy 144 270-685-2444Site of Reid's Orchard Apple Festival the third weekend in October. Browse through the store that stocks homemade apple cider and pies, relishes, fruits, vegetables and other seasonal goodies. Also, enjoy picking your own fruits and vegetables.
River City Trolley
Boarding throughout Owensboro 270-687-8570Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cost to ride is $.50 (seniors over 60, $.25) The Trolley makes shopping a breeze since the route circles through the historic downtown area with its great antique and speciality shops, and then travels south to the major shopping areas including Towne Square Mall and Wal-Mart. The route is repeated every hour with boarding at the Executive Inn Rivermont main entrance at the top of the hour and the Towne Square mall main entrance on the half hour. A sign is posted at all other stops.
RiverPark Center
101 Daviess Street 270-687-2787RiverPark Center is a bustling Regional Performing Arts and Civic center that hosts more than 1,000 events each year, including professional Broadway tour performances, Owensboro Symphony Orchestra concerts, and made-in-Owensboro festivals and productions such as "From Vienna To Broadway", "42nd Street", International Murder Mystery Festival, and Winter Wonderland on the Riverfront.
Shelton Memorial
Veterans Boulevard at Smothers ParkDowntown on the riverfront, this memorial is named for Colonel Charles Shelton, the last POW from the Vietnam War. This monument recognizes and honors all POWS/MIAS and family members from all wars.
Theatre Workshop of Owensboro
407 W. Fifth Street 270-683-5333Owensboro's community theatre for over 40 years, TWO produces five mainstage productions each season, plus youth productions in the summer, and summer musicals. Many outreach programs are also offered to business and civic organizations for entertainment. Housed in the renovated historic Trinity Church built in 1875.
Western KY Botanical Garden
25 Carter Road 270-852-8925 / 270-993-1234With six established gardens - Butterfly, Rose, Daylili, Iris, Herb, and Fruit & Berry - the garden is becoming a center for the growth and display of hundreds of outstanding plant selections as well as a beautiful location for social gatherings. The newest addition to the garden is the Takahashi Japanese Memorial Garden. Appreciate the wonders of the environment and learn to interact with nature. The relaxing environment will help you enjoy a garden with beauty and learn solutions to gardening problems. Groups are welcome.
