Duncan Hines Days 2025 Recap

Published:

June 19, 2025

Category:

Downtown Development Division

Contact:

Telia Butler - 270-393-3617

Location:

Bowling Green, KY

At least 13,000 people attended a Duncan Hines Days event, representing at least 17 states based on zip code tracking, and a conservative economic impact of $2.04 million was spent in the BG/WC area. This community development event continues to improve our quality of life.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., - June 19, 2025 - The 3rd Annual Duncan Hines Days event was hosted June 1-8, 2025  in southern Kentucky, with a focus on 19 events held throughout Bowling Green and Warren County. Thanks to all whose hard work contributed to these, and to the co-presenting sponsorships of the City and Warren County, it is estimated that:

• at least 13,000 people attended a Duncan Hines Days event during the week
• at least 17 states were represented based on zip codes tracked thru admissions/ticketing
• an economic economic impact of $2.04 million dollars was felt in the BG/WC area

With more than 50 partners and sponsors working on these events, the Bowling Green community has shown the need and importance of this signature event that offers something for all, with a seat for everyone at the community table. Duncan Hines was a real person, a Bowling Green native and WKU alum, whose travel guidebooks and brand name legacy of good food and good fun is celebrated through these culinary, recreational, and cultural events. When Mother Nature impacted outdoor event locations this year, kudos to the teams at the City and County that successfully pivoted entire venue plans to ensure the safety and continued success of the events moved.

The Duncan Hines brand is owned by Conagra Foods, who donated 6,000 boxes of baking mixes to give away to the community throughout the week thanks to Houchens Food Group. The Conagra brand supports our community’s efforts to create affordable and accessible programming in Duncan’s name, and 20+ local businesses putting together these events were part of the distribution. Event-goers across the participating venues had the chance to snag free baking mix.

Year three's event was impacted heavily by a very rainy Spring season, with 3 days of rain impacting outdoor events. Despite moving one event indoors, canceling another entirely, and a crowd facing rain for a third, the community impact of these events continue to be an economic and quality of life driver. Overall, the community was very pleased with the event and is looking forward to year four!

Here’s a rundown of Duncan Hines Days events, many thanks to all who hosted:

• Restaurant Week – 24 restaurants, food trucks, and bars participated
• NEW Fountain Square Nostalgic Block Party with live action Candy Land with Downtown businesses
• NEW Dolly Trolley hosted by the Historic RailPark & Train Museum's Trolley with the NEW '9 to 5' film showing at The Capitol featuring Dolly Parton
• Pickleball Palooza at Roland Bland Park
• NEW Community Bike Ride & Dine throughout Downtown
• Duncan Hines Day at Russell Sims Aquatic Center
• Scavenger Hunt at National Corvette Museum
• "Recommended by Duncan Hines" exhibit at Kentucky Museum
• Duncan-themed tours all month at Historic RailPark & Train Museum
• Baking mix giveaways at both Riverview at Hobson Grove house museum and South Union Shaker Village
• Vintage Car Show at Fountain Square Park with Cruisin’ for a Cure
• Uncle Duncan’s Summer Stroll Parade around Downtown BGKY 
• Community Ice Cream Social at BG Ballpark Plaza
• Duncan Hines Night with the Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Cake Walk Club
• Fountain Row Friday live music at White Squirrel Brewery
• Dolly Parton Tribute show at The Capitol featuring Natasha Neely
• Duncan’s Duck Paddle Race & Regatta had to cancel due to rain
• Eats & Beats Music Fest at Circus Square Park with The Josephines, Government Cheese (celebrating its 40th anniversary), HuDost, The Lowland Ramblers, and the Bowling Green Rock Band Academy

Over 30 local private company sponsors also contributed to this community development success, along with dozens of volunteers to bring these events to life, too.

For the full event recap that digs into further details, click here.

Save the date for next year: June 1-7, 2026. Find community partners and sponsors on the website: duncanhinesdays.com. Follow along on social media for next year on Facebook, Instagram, and X: @duncanhinesdays.