Duncan Hines Days 2024 Recap

Published:

June 14, 2024

Category:

Downtown Development Division

Contact:

Telia Butler - 270-393-3617

Location:

Bowling Green, KY

At least 17,400 people attended a Duncan Hines Days event, representing at least 15 states based on zip code tracking, and a conservative economic impact of $2.96 million was spent in the BG/WC area. This community development event continues to improve our quality of life.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., - June 14, 2024 - The 2nd Annual Duncan Hines Days event was hosted June 3-9, 2024 in southern Kentucky, with a focus on 15 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 17,400 people attended a Duncan Hines Days event during the week
• at least 18 states were represented based on zip codes tracked thru admissions/ticketing
• an economic economic impact of $2.96 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.

Last year’s inaugural Duncan Hines Days brought just over 16,000 attendees and a $2.23 million dollar impact to our area. An 8.75 percent increase in attendees this year brought a 29 percent increase in economic impact over last year thanks to inflation and expected visitor spending.

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

• Restaurant Week – 20 restaurants, food trucks, and bars participated
• Duncan Hines Day at Russell Sims Aquatic Center
• Pickleball Palooza at Ephram White Park (moved from Roland Bland Park due to rain)
• Capitol Theatre movie showing of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"
• Unseen BG XXX Pauline Tabor Tour
• Baking with the Pie Queen at SoKY Marketplace
• Scavenger Hunt at National Corvette Museum
• "Recommended by Duncan Hines" exhibit at Kentucky Museum
• Show Modular Train Duncan Hines display at Historic RailPark & Train Museum
• 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 with dozens of organizations, the George Washington Carver Center's Duncan baked good, BG Trolley Tours with Duncan and Clara Hines, and a Dolly Parton impersonator show - all at SoKY Marketplace
• Party on the Plaza at BG Ballpark
• Uncle Duncan’s Duck Paddle Race & Regatta at Romanza Johnson Park (moved from Barren River due to rain)
• Eats & Beats Music Fest at Circus Square Park with Sam Bush, Government Cheese, Girl Tones, OTIS, and the Bowling Green Rock Band Academy

Over 20 local private company sponsors also contributed to this community development success, along with dozens of volunteers to bring these events to life, too. Duncan Hines Days even made the cover story of the May issue of Kentucky Monthly magazine.

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

Save the date for next year: June 2-8, 2025. Find community partners and sponsors on the website: duncanhinesdays.com. Follow along on social media for next year on Facebook, Instagram, and X: @duncanhinesdays.