A major geocaching event in its 18th year is set to be held in Daviess County for the first time. Owensboro is hosting the event in parks and along the riverfront beginning Friday evening.
The Midwest Open Geocaching Adventure, or MOGA, will send visitors on a high-tech treasure hunt to find small containers using a GPS device, or a GPS-enabled mobile phone.
President and CEO of Visit Owensboro, Mark Calitri, said the event was already planned to meet COVID-19 safety guidelines using the outdoor venues of the Rudy Mine Trail, Yellow Creek Park, and the Riverwalk.
“Then the CDC a couple weeks ago came out with some new guidelines, so now the registrations keep rising higher,” said Calitri. “But as of today (Monday), we have 39 states represented. We’ve got someone from Great Britain coming. We’ve already had somebody from Alaska check in this past week.”
So far, at least 1,500 people are expected for the event.
Calitri said COVID-19 safety has always been a priority in planning the event, even as guidelines are easing.
“We just like the fact that it is an outdoor event. Registration at the park will be outdoors,” he said. “And, then of course, the social type things, it’ll be at individual restaurants and bars in Owensboro and so those will be based on the rules those restaurants establish.”
Registration and kick-off social events begin Friday along the Owensboro riverfront during the Friday After 5 concert. Geocaching events will continue through the Memorial Day weekend.
