Last year’s inaugural Duncan Hines Days brought food, entertainment and adventure to the area in the name of Bowling Green’s own Duncan Hines, with this year’s event promising many new and reshaped attractions.

Hines, a household name now because of the cake mixes bearing his name, was born in 1880 in Bowling Green and was a traveling salesman who published a series of guidebooks with recommendations on the best food and lodging across the United States.

The weeklong celebration, which will run June 3-9, is a revamped version of the original Duncan Hines Festival that began in 1997 and ended in 2020.

Events will take place throughout the week at various locations.

“Year two is going to be even better than year one,” said Telia Butler, Bowling Green’s downtown development coordinator.

New to this year’s schedule is Duncan Hines Day at Russell Sims Waterpark on June 4, featuring Duncan Hines baking mix giveaways and specials at concessions.

On June 5, new events include Pickleball Palooza at Roland Bland Park with local food trucks that have pickle-themed specials and Duncan Hines Days meets BG Unseen, featuring a free movie, Dolly Parton’s “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” at The Capitol and a book sale at The Capitol Bookstore with copies of “Pauline’s,” a biography of Bowling Green’s famous brothel owner.

A weeklong scavenger hunt at the National Corvette Museum has also been added, with free Duncan Hines baking mixes given to those who complete the hunt.

The George Washington Carver Center will give away baking mixes throughout the week and will bake Duncan Hines cakes and brownies for fundraisers, and Riverview at Hobson Grove will also give away baking mixes.

Butler said the mixes were donated by the Duncan Hines food company.

“We finally got an audience with the Duncan Hines brand last fall,” Butler said. “As a result of our conversation with them, they offered to donate 6,000 cake and brownie mixes to give away at the events throughout the week.”

Butler said another exciting addition to this year’s celebration is a large, original “Recommended by Duncan Hines” sign that was found on Facebook Marketplace in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

“We plan to loan it to Meltdown Ice Cream on the square to use during the week,” she said. “It will fit in their window and will look great. It’s just so nostalgic and really fits with their vibe.”

Restaurant Week will return June 3-9. Butler said this year, more restaurants will offer special Duncan Hines-themed items, discounts and specials, including Duncan Hines-themed shots at Cliffs of Moher Irish Pub, Mellow Mushroom’s Hot Brown Smackdown pizza, themed around Duncan Hines’ favorite meal and an old-fashioned burger at the Corvette Museum’s Stingray Grill.

CandleMakers on the Square will also have baking mix giveaways and will hand-pour Duncan Hines food-scented candles.

“We have also introduced a cute little mascot for the kids,” Butler said.

The mascot, a duck named Duckin, is a “nod to the duck in the old Duncan Hines Festival logo” and is featured in a series of 15 short reels on the Duncan Hines Days Instagram page.

Returning this year is the Downtown Kickoff Party on June 7, which includes the Community Ice Cream Social at SoKY Marketplace at 6 p.m., featuring several local dessert and food trucks and live entertainment from Natasha Neely as Dolly Parton at the Marketplace Pavilion and snacks, food and music at the Ballpark Plaza connected via Hot Rod Alley.

The Classic Car Cruise-In at Fountain Square will begin at 4 p.m. and Uncle Duncan’s Summer Stroll Parade will begin at 5 p.m. at Circus Square.

Butler said that 53 cars have already registered for this year’s cruise-in, as compared to last year’s 40.

At the Historic RailPark & Train Museum, Dine with Duncan on the Duncan Hines Diner Car returns and BG Trolley Tours hosted by Duncan will offer multiple tours, including a loop around the Downtown Kickoff at SoKY Marketplace.

“The Eats & Beats Music Fest is also back,” Butler said. “We have 20 food trucks and have extended it to start an hour earlier in the day. We might also have a surprise performance added to the lineup. The idea is to add a little more every year so it is a festival that truly lasts all day.”

The festival, which will be from 3 to 10 p.m. June 8 at Circus Square Park, will feature Bluegrass Hall of Fame artist Sam Bush, Government Cheese, Girl Tones and Otis.

Admission to Eats & Beats is free and Butler said a new VIP ticket experience has been added. VIP tickets are $75 and may be purchased at duncanhinesdays.com.

Also returning is Duncan’s Duck Paddle Race and Regatta, scheduled for 8 a.m. June 8 at the downtown boat ramp. Butler said there are already 45 registered racers and this year, and she expects the number to surpass last year’s 49 racers.

Butler said the numbers from last year’s Duncan Hines Days indicated just how much people within and beyond the area “really embraced it.”

Around 16,000 people from at least 28 states attended last year’s event, based on tracking at the attractions and venues and from ZIP codes for tickets and purchasing, with at least $2.28 million in spending brought to southcentral Kentucky’s economy.

Volunteers are still needed to help out, Butler said, and organizations, high school students who need service hours and “anyone with a heart for service” can sign up on the website.

– For more information and traffic impact, parking and event maps for the June 7-8 downtown events, visit duncanhinesdays.com. Additional information can be found on the Duncan Hines Days Facebook, Instagram or X pages.