OWENSBORO, Ky. — Downtown Owensboro transforms into a canvas of light and color this weekend with the debut of “Illuminate,” a free art and light festival organizers said will draw thousands to Kentucky’s only riverfront city for immersive installations, drone displays and live music.

The three-night event, running Friday through Sunday, features 14 national art installations scattered across a mile-long loop from the Owensboro Convention Center to the RiverPark Center and First Baptist Church.

It’s the city’s latest bid to spotlight its cultural scene, alternating biennially with the Owensboro Air Show, which skips 2025.

“We’re tracking to have a massive crowd here throughout the weekend, more response than what we were anticipating,” said Tim Ross, the city’s director of public events

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