86 bands. 16 Fridays. Six venues that is set to begin on May 18 and runs through August 31. Friday After 5 celebrates its 22nd season with a wide variety of bands all hoping to spread togetherness during this year’s theme, “We are Family.”
“Fun. Free. Friends. Family. That’s our mission statement,” said Executive Director Teresa Thomas. “We have planned another great summer for our region. All events are free thanks to our sponsors.”
The award-winning duo “LOCASH” returns to Owensboro on August 24 located on the front lawn of the Owensboro Convention Center, “Champion Ford is proud to bring LOCASH back to Owensboro for another huge night at Friday After 5,” said Duke Brubaker, General Manager and Vice President of Champion Ford. “This event is sure to be another memorable night. At Champion, we love to be involved in community events to show that we are more than an auto dealership. We live here, play here, and invest our time, energy, and money here.”
There will be an after-party on the front lawn August 24 with Prof G Entertainment sponsored by Kentucky Legend. Many other favorite bands are back again this season including “RetroShock,” “Louisville Crashers,” “Jimmy Church,” “Old Salt Union” and “Naked Karate Girls” plus new additions including “Juice Box Heroes,” “The Drunken Hearts” and “Lipbone Redding.”
Sixteen different bands will perform on the Jagoe Homes Patio Stage at the BB&T Plaza located at the RiverPark Center starting each Friday at 6:30 p.m. with a different sponsor each week.
Every Friday acoustic artists will perform in the Atmos Energy courtyard beginning at 7 p.m.
New and up and coming artists, singers and dancers will perform on the AT&T “Your Thing” Overlook stage at the foot of Frederica St. beginning each Friday at 7 p.m.
“The Kroger Street Fair will expand to include most of Veterans Boulevard,” according to producer Starling Lambert. “We will have many more vendors and food trucks plus, as part of our policy, we allow non-profits to have booths each Friday at no charge. The Street Fair will have a different theme each week, including the 3rd annual Ahoy Boat Parade on July 27 sponsored by Hall Marine and Krogers.”
“The Pier at the Owensboro Convention Center has a new sponsor and we are excited to partner with Kentucky Legend,” states Teresa Thomas, executive director.
“Kentucky Legend is very excited to bring to the city of Owensboro our Legendary Party at the Pier. We expect this summer to be a series of Fridays that you will always remember. We are so thrilled to have an opportunity to partner with the infamous Friday After 5 crew in firing up the stage for an unforgettable time. Get ready to expect the unexpected,” says Director of Marketing for Kentucky Legend, Brooklyn Maple.
“It’s our fourth year for our Party at the Pier venue,” says producer Katie Keller. “We have the best line-up ever and a new sponsor. The venue opens early and the bands will play from 8 – 11:30 p.m. each Friday on the newly named Legendary Party at the Pier located at the Owensboro Convention Center.”
Glenn’s Gospel on the River returns with six gospel concerts during the season, each featuring a wide-variety of touring gospel acts performing in Cannon Hall inside the RiverPark Center. In addition, there will also be Glenn’s Worship on the Water with our local super talented contemporary Christian bands.
“We’ll be offering free class preUnions again this season,” according to Class PreUnion producer, Becky Barnhart. “Most class reunions take place on Saturdays. That’s why we host them the evening before and call them class ‘preunions.’ We provide a gathering table, chairs, great band, beautiful venue and will even help the classes promote their reunion all at no charge. Classes have a choice to gather at either the RiverPark Center or the Owensboro Convention Center.”
“There are so many bands, events, artists and additions each week, the best way to access all of the information is to download the Friday After 5 app,” explains Thomas. “It’s free and provides all of the latest information and updates for the summer season that runs from May 18 through August 31.”
“No tickets. No wristbands. No kidding,” said Chad Day. “We’ll have two free photo booths, free balloon animals and popcorn for the kids plus the water balloon contest provided by Kroger’s and hula hoop contests sponsored by Welborns each Friday.”
TD’s Tuff Decisions costumes will be providing costume characters each week. “We love this community and providing a way to keep the kids entertained is a way for us to stay active and give back to our beautiful downtown,” explained Tom Deyton of TD’s.
“We will be launching a new website and app that will be easier to navigate,” said Brandon Gentry, board chair. “Our seasons keep growing so we must stay on top of cutting edge technology and we could not do that without our partnership with RedPixel,” says Gentry.
The entire line-up is accessible on Friday After 5’s website, FridayAfter5.com, and the mobile app that is available for both IOS and Android phones.
Friday After 5 is Owensboro’s summer-long free music festival that takes place along the six-block downtown riverfront running from the RiverPark Center to the Owensboro Convention Center. The event began over 20 years ago in the courtyard of the then 4-year-old RiverPark Center. The festival has grown to include six venues of entertainment including the RPC patio, courtyard, Cannon Hall, as well as a street fair along Veteran’s Boulevard, entertainment on the city’s “Overlook” as well as the Owensboro Convention Center’s “Pier.”
The festival was named the “Platinum Reader’s Choice Award for Community Event” last year and named among the “Top 10 Summer Events in Kentucky” by the Kentucky Tourism Council.
All events are free. For more information you may access FridayAfter5.com or contact them via e-mail at [email protected].
