Well I’ve known about Second Saturdays for over two years now, but have you? Maybe it’s because Fountain Square Park is my favorite place in Bowling Green’s downtown, otherwise known as “The District.” So I’m here to tell you all about this all-ages, family-oriented combo of a street fair and craftsman’s village held monthly from April through September on, of course, the second Saturday of the month. Need some weekend fun time without the hassle of getting in the car and driving for an hour or more? Read on. 

In its third year, Second Saturdays features everything from vendors (with an emphasis on crafts ranging from jewelry to clothing to art to furniture), sidewalk sales from the brick-and-mortar stores on the square, kids activities (ranging from inflatables, face painting, clowns, sand art, characters and rides), food and music (bands, solo artists, teen acts). Coordinated by the Fountain Square Business Association and the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, the mission of Second Saturdays is simply to bring more people downtown to reacquaint themselves with all that The District has to offer. After all, downtown Bowling Green is the inner core of our city and our county, so keeping it vital should benefit all the surrounding areas.

Getting to my area of expertise for a minute, local bands, I can tell you some great local bands are performing here. Bands such as Fat Box, E J Rider, Jordan Weiss, Blue Light Special, Fender Benders, Scott Harris Band and Nine Horse Johnson have played or are scheduled to play. Many of these play the Concerts in the Parks; they’re that good. So why not come down in the daytime and see these bands without the crowds (at least for now)? Same quality, less hassle. And did I mention the music is non-stop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.? (There are stages at each end of the park; one on, one off).  

Bringing a renewed vigor to the job at hand, Robin Harden of the DRA took over the hands-on running of the events this year. Having a solid background in sales, marketing, and real estate, much of it honed in London, Kentucky, she seems to have the experience needed for the job. And, she says, she’s having fun. According to Harden, each month has a theme. May’s theme was the Hot Rods (the baseball kind) who were available for autographs, June featured The Red Cross providing information on their services, and July will feature the fire department. The firefighters should be bringing a fire truck with them for the kids to admire and ask questions.  

Harden says that these outdoor events are held rain or shine, so don’t let a few drops keep you away. Just bring the umbrella or poncho and come on down. She welcomes new vendors and noted she is usually there by 7:15 a.m. setting up and can even accommodate walk-on vendors same day, although she prefers being contacted as early as possible. She makes every effort not to place similar vendors too close to each other. Bands can apply, too, but almost all spots are booked for this season. She is taking applications for backups in case a band cancels. She loves young bands so it could be a great opportunity for new bands to get some exposure. I asked Harden if there are any surprises coming. Her response was to come down and see, otherwise it wouldn’t be a surprise. Smart lady. 

Harden can be contacted at 782-0222 or at mainstreet@downtownbg.org. They also have a Facebook page, secondsaturdaysbg, where you can see photos and get plenty of info. So check that out and then come on down. The next Second Saturday is July 14 Be there.

About the author: Pennman bought his first 45 at age nine and has been hooked on rock ever since. He has spent much of his disposable income on music, especially live performances. He writes reviews of the shows he sees and keeps a keen lookout for upcoming shows in or near Bowling Green. He has a BA in Communications, specializing in journalism, and has dabbled in music himself, both as a player and instructor. Visit him at www.facebook.com/pennman