Kentucky Wesleyan College moves downtown! Well, for Friday anyway.
Kentucky Wesleyan will be bringing their students, faculty and freshmen to the party Friday. They will also be unveiling their brand new Panther Mascot plus all of their sports teams will be on hand with games that will “test your skill” at the Kroger Street Fair!
Patio: Ernie Smalls Blues Band (great pop and blues fun) sponsored by Kentucky Wesleyan College 6:30-10:00pm
Atmos Courtyard: Lacy Jean & Ryan (acoustic hits) sponsored by Atmos Energy 7pm-10pm
Kroger Street Fair: Independence Bank kids’ train, sports events, inflatables, kids petting zoo, free popcorn and balloons and special guest Yogi Bear courtesy TDs Costumes.
Gospel on the River: Final free gospel concert in Cannon Hall featuring “The Crossmen Quartet”, “Deena Ashley” and “Firm Foundation” sponsored by Glenn Family Services 7-9pm (special opening act: McLean County’s “Rock a Teens” beginning at 6:15pm)
Party on the Pier: Spiritual Rez (party reggae band) on the Convention Center Pier sponsored by Don Moore Automotive 7:30pm-11:00pm
Four Class PreUnions:
Apollo High -1980
Owensboro HS -1975
South Spencer – 1985
Catholic High – 1985
Here are the full details:
“Ernie Smalls Band” on the patio. Sponsored by Kentucky Wesleyan College. (6:30pm-10:00pm)
Kentucky Wesleyan College welcomes their “Class of 2019″ to Owensboro by throwing a party for the entire town! The Ernie Smalls Blues Band rates among the best performance groups ever brought to Friday After 5. The band has been entertaining the Bowling Green community with a blend of blues, rock and jazz for over 33 years. Ernie Small, rhythm guitar and lead vocals, and Eddie Mills, bass guitar, are the remaining founding members and long time band mates, Ernest Raymer, guitar and keyboards, Jeff Mollyhorn, alto sax, Kevin Briley, trumpet, and more recent additions Gary Graves, tenor sax, and Jeff Jones, on drums, round out the group. The Blues Band’s sound has always included a strong female vocalist; Randi Womack is the current singer and she brings an incredible voice and presence to the stage. One of the longest performing bands in the region, the Ernie Small Blues Band has played every local venue and for nearly every event that has included music. “Having heard year after year how great this event is, we’re excited to perform at Friday After 5! It’s a great privilege and we look forward to entertaining all our friends and neighbors from up the Natcher Parkway.” Thank you Kentucky Wesleyan College for tonight’s party! SPECIAL BONUS: Many members of the Wesleyan coaching staff and players will be on hand tonight, plus they will be introducing their new Wesley N. Panther Mascot! Don’t miss any of the free fun!
Atmos Energy Courtyard: Lacy Jean & Ryan. Sponsored by Atmos. (7:00pm-10:00pm)
After two decades of traveling North America, violin bow in hand, the Owensboro native seems settled in back home with weekend gigs on the fiddle and a daily presence at Owensboro Music Center, where she is a sales associate. Lacy graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School in 1993 then studied violin performance at the University of Louisville. But finishing her degree lost its luster when she began receiving invitations to play with orchestras from Chicago to Orlando. Her recent appearances include back-up work on stage shows with Glen Campbell, Dionne Warwick and the Moody Blues. She’s also been a regular with the Owensboro and Bowling Green symphonies. “I traveled a lot because it was great fun and decent money. I just love to play.” And not just classical music. She’s a fiddler, too, and plays the guitar and mandolin and sings as well! A relaxing, fun-filled evening of music is waiting for you Friday night. Over twenty years ago, Atmos Energy gifted the “Courtyard” to the RiverPark Center. Now they set it to music by sponsoring our acoustic entertainers each Friday evening all summer long. Stop by and bring your date!
Gospel on the River. Sponsored by Glenn Family Services (Doors open at 6pm. Show at 7pm.)
This is the final free Gospel Music concert of the season in beautiful Cannon Hall at the RiverPark Center. The Crossmen Quartet, Deena Ashley and Firm Foundation are on stage tonight. Glenn Family Services has sponsored this free gospel series for more than 12 years running. Call a friend and enjoy a faith-lifting performance by three great groups Friday Night. Thank you Glenn Family Services for giving back to the community year after year! SPECIAL BONUS: Enjoy a special performance by the McLean County “Rock-A-Teens” at 6:30pm in Cannon Hall.
Spiritual Rez on the Don Moore Party Pier (7:30pm-11:00pm)
“The craziest Reggae dance party you’ll ever be a part of.” They are a high energy performance band that Party Pier crowds will find contagious. It’s a soul-funk fusion that besides being incredibly infectious, is dance-inciting! BDC Wire says “Boston’s Spiritual Rez have established themselves as not only one of the best reggae acts ever but one of the overall best live shows as well.” This week’s band is staying over courtesy of our newest downtown hotel, Holiday Inn Riverfront, home of “Another Broken Egg”. Join the party on the Don Moore Party Pier, our All-America City newest performance venue. The “Party Pier” is right on the Ohio River behind our new Convention Center. Just steps away, you’ll find Smothers Park where visitors fall in love with the new waterfall feature and the Signature Fountain, designed by the same people who created the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas. Don Moore Automotive team sponsors the entire season where we throw a party every Friday of the summer. Just like everything at Friday After 5, it’s free. Fun. Free. Friends. Friday After 5 is Where the Weekend Begins!
Kroger Street Fair
The fun has begun. Friday night is “Sports Night” and Block Party! We provide free space for all of the “Non-Profit Agencies” in our community. We’ll have the Independence Bank train rolling down Veteran’s Blvd with free rides for the kids! “Yogi Bear” will be our special guest from Cartoonland! All of our cartoon characters are courtesy of TDs Tuff Decisions Costumes right here in Owensboro! We’ll shine the spotlight on the kids who compete in our weekly Hula-Hoop contest at 7:45 sponsored by Welborn’s, followed by five grown-ups who try to win the KrogerWater Balloon toss. Winners and losers join together to “Toast the Sunset”, a Friday After 5 tradition for 19 years! It’s the only place where the sun goes down yet the night warms up! The kids will love the huge “Lazy Dayz” playground near the signature fountains in Smothers Park. They can actually climb up a tree from the inside! Really! It’s a resort quality park filled with fun and friends. Just like Friday After 5, it’s free. Thanks Kroger for all of the fun!
