Owenboro’s efforts to boost its nightlife takes a step forward on Friday, May 17. It will be the first evening people will be able to openly carry alcoholic drinks downtown.
Owensboro’s ‘Friday After 5’ this weekend is the first event to take advantage of the city’s newly created entertainment district.
The way it works is that the city issues a permit for each event that wants to use what’s simply called 'The District.' It’s an area that runs along the riverwalk and for five blocks inland and includes the RiverPark Center, the convention center, the Bluegrass Museum, and downtown hotels and restaurants.
'The District' goes from JR Miller Blvd. on the east to Poplar Street on the west and from the riverwalk on the north to 5th Street on the south.
Some areas will not allow alcoholic drinks, including the children's park along the riverwalk and the Shelton Memorial that honors Vietnam veterans.
“It’s an entertainment district not unlike the one in Maysville, Kentucky. Laws have changed in Kentucky recently which allow this type of activity," said Owensboro Assistant City Manager Lelan Hancock. "It’s something that the commission has been working on for a while and as we’ve worked through the process and the rules and regulation and the ABC laws we came up with our district, which we call 'The District'."
'The District' is expected to attract locals and visitors of all ages.
"It adds an attractiveness to our downtown," said Hancock. "It allows the patrons the freedom to get out and discover everything that downtown Owensboro has to offer. And you can do that by utilizing one of the green cups that the participating restaurants and bars that serve alcohol will be utilizing.”
Green plastic cups can be filled with an alcoholic drink 'to go' and will allow patrons of downtown bars and restaurants to stroll around and enjoy vendors, music and evening breezes off the river.
“It’s an entertainment district not unlike the one in Maysville, Kentucky. Laws have changed in Kentucky recently which allow this type of activity. So it’s something that the commission has been working on for a while and as we’ve worked through the process and the rules and regulation and the ABC laws we came up with our district, which we call “The District.”
Each organization will have to get city permit to hold an event and use all or part of
“The District.” This week’s ‘Friday after 5’, a free summer concert series along the
the riverfront, is the first event to make use of the newly- created ‘District.’
