'Groovin on the Green' returns Sept. 21

The Northwest Neighborhood Alliance will host its third annual “Groovin’ on the Green” at 5 p.m. Sept. 21 on the lawn of the Owensboro Convention Center.

A free concert featuring jazz/blues and rhythm and blues artists is the headline event, with food trucks, arts and crafts vendors and preventative health booths rounding out the festivities.

“This is to help bring the community together, that’s the main thing,” said David Curry, a Northwest Neighborhood Alliance board member. “Owensboro hangs its hat really on being a music city. We figured we’d bring a different genre to the Owensboro area in hopes to bring the community together. It’s definitely a genre that there has been a void in the Owensboro area. We’ve heard the cries for different music, so that’s what we wanted to bring.”

The event was held the first two years at Moneta Sleet Jr. Park, but organizers decided additional space was needed.

“We loved it in the park, hated to leave, but it was time, the way it is growing,” said Curry, who noted the event remains within the Northwest Neighborhood. “We think parking is going to be better, and it gives us an opportunity to expand the event and see what it could look like in two or three years, maybe bringing national artists to the region.”

Curry said the alliance’s success putting on events speaks to how much residents in the area have bought into making the community better.

“We do have people who are willing to do the work, to volunteer,” he said. “They are of the community, have been a pillar around the community for a long time, and that kind of spreads to people with like-minded ideas. Rafe Buckner spearheaded getting the alliance reactivated. He knocked on my door and said, ‘I need your help. I want to revitalize the community.’ Rafe, myself, a couple other board members, we took it from there and said, ‘Let’s do this.’ We saw the needs in the community.

“The beautiful thing about our alliance is someone will come up with an idea and they will spearhead it, and the rest of us will follow their lead and help pitch in wherever we need to.”

The musical lineup includes Maestro J & Friends and the Unlimited Show Band, both from Louisville, and The Michael Gough Group, which is from the Russellville area.

While the event will have plenty of food and entertainment options, there will also be free blood pressure checks among the health-related services being offered.

“Owensboro Health came last year to set up multiple booths,” said Curry, who anticipates they’ll do a similar setup this year.

Residents will also be able to register to vote.

There will be a raffle for a 50-inch television and gift cards. Entry into the raffle will be gained by visiting assorted vendors and booths that will be designated.

Owensboro Health, Southern Star, UniFirst, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and Boardwalk Pipeline are sponsoring the event.

“This could not be possible without our many sponsors,” Curry said. “They play a vital role in the things we can do.”