City thanks sponsors after Duncan Hines Days draws thousands to downtown

City staff on June 17 publicly thanked sponsors and partners who supported the third annual Duncan Hines Days, a multi-day downtown festival that organizers said drew attendees from across the region.

Talia Butler, the city's downtown coordinator, presented a list of monetary and in-kind donors who helped stage concerts, family events and themed downtown activities. Butler said event partners and ticketing-tracked attendance showed '7more than 12,000 people attended events throughout the week from at least 17 states.' She noted the festival ran with several rain-affected cancellations but organizers were pleased with turnout and community support.

City staff and presenters thanked specific local sponsors and partners that provided venues, volunteers, in-kind services and production support. City acknowledgments included event hosts and partners such as Fountain Row Proms/Blue Level Productions, White Squirrel Brewery, Bowling Green Rock Band Academy, Hotel Inc., the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the Bowling Green Trolley, the Warren County Public Library, WKU parking and transportation (for shuttle support), and local restaurants and retailers that staged themed menus and activities.

Butler also recognized county staff and agencies that assisted with logistics: Warren County stormwater, emergency management services, county parks and recreation, the sheriff's office and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet staff (who assisted with street closures). She thanked city parks and recreation staff and inmate crews who helped set up and break down major stages.

City leaders said the event is part of an ongoing effort to boost tourism and downtown activity and asked the community to save the date for June 2026.

Quotes and context - Talia Butler (downtown coordinator) summarized attendance and sponsors and said the full community impact report is "almost ready." She told the commission: "We had over 12,000 people attend events throughout the week from at least 17 states that were tracked through our ticketed partners." (paraphrase of city presentation)

- Mayor Alcott and commissioners publicly thanked staff and the community for organizing the event, calling the sponsor network '7what makes us a community.'

Why it matters Duncan Hines Days is a multi-day tourism and downtown activation effort that the city and county say supports local restaurants, hotels and arts organizations. City staff framed the event as part of a broader strategy to increase downtown visitation and local economic activity.

What's next City staff said a full community impact report will be posted; organizers asked sponsors and the public to save the date for June 2026.