Date Night on a Budget

Every couple needs a good date night. But the one thing about date nights is, they can be costly. Once you’ve tallied up the costs for dinner, drinks, a show and/or an experience for a night on the town, you end up with a lighter wallet and, sometimes, a tighter budget to get through the week.

But that’s where we step in. Date nights don’t always have to cost that much!

We’re breaking down the best date night experiences for those times when you don’t want to break the budget, starting with live music.

Friday After 5 is a great opportunity to catch, not one, but multiple concerts across our downtown riverfront FOR FREE. There is absolutely no cost that comes with attending Friday After 5, making it the perfect place to spend quality time with your loved one in the great outdoors.

Friday After 5 kicks off May 20 and runs through September 3 from 5 p.m.-midnight for 16 Fridays straight!

And it only gets better, because Owensboro is now home to another free concert and entertainment series that runs all summer as well! Downtown Live will be held at the RiverPark Center, with the first night kicking off May 13. It will run for 12 Fridays, bringing you a different theme each week. You can find six different spaces utilized for live entertainment, a full bar, and so much more. This event is for those 21 and older.

Another option for your low-budget date night is a trip to Western Kentucky Botanical Garden. This is literally one of the most beautiful places in Owensboro, and its growing season runs all summer and fall. A tour only costs $5 per person, giving you an affordable, intimate experience that also connects you with nature.

With more than 25 different parks spread across the city and county, there is no shortage of fishing ponds, picnic spaces and walking trails that are all free to use, and just as romantic as a big night out.

For those who love the arts, the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art is the perfect place to peruse a handful of galleries featuring a wide range of artistic styles. While touring an art museum can be pricey in some cities, here in Owensboro, you can tour OMFA for free (though donations are always appreciated). This would be more of an early evening date, as the museum’s gallery hours run from noon-1 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.