Light Up BGKY kicks off at Train Depot
Published 3:52 pm Monday, December 1, 2025
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Lights cling to the sides of the engine and cars on the Historic RailPark and Train Museum’s L&N locomotive following the Light Up BGKY kickoff event, which also celebrated the depot’s 100th anniversary, on Monday.
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Red and green LED Christmas lights and the lights from local law enforcement vehicles decorate the outside of the Historic RailPark and Train Museum during the Light Up BGKY kickoff event, which also celebrated the depot’s 100th anniversary, on Monday.
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Children meet Santa Claus during the Light Up BGKY kickoff event at the Historic RailPark and Train Museum, which also celebrated the depot’s 100th anniversary, on Monday.
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An ornament commemorating the 100th anniversary of the L&N Depot in Bowling Green hangs on a small Christmas tree during the Light Up BGKY kickoff event, which also celebrated the depot’s 100th anniversary, on Monday.
The lights went up as the mercury fell Monday evening as a crowd of local figures and members of the public gathered at the historic RailPark and Train Museum to kick off the weeklong Light Up BGKY event.
“We’re really honored this year to be the kickoff location for Light Up BG,” museum head Jamie Johnson told the Daily News. “We’re a part of it every year, but it was just a little extra special to host the kickoff night.”
A choir sang traditional Christmas tunes on the front step of the depot as attendees arrived. Inside, attendees mingled while food was served in other parts of the station.
As the wintry weather forecasted for Monday night started to sprinkle down, visitors joined the choir in singing “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and “Jingle Bells.” After a countdown, the switch was flipped on lights at the top of the depot, around the L&N train engine and cars behind the building, and on local law enforcement vehicles parked out front.
In the past, the event has kicked off at Cherry Hall on the campus of Western Kentucky University and with the lighting of the water wheel that faces Nashville Road at Lost River Cave.
The event culminates this Friday with Downtown BGKY Lights Up, taking place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. that night. Switches will be flipped at Circus Square Park, Fountain Square Park, the Christmas tree at SKyPAC and, in another first, at the chamber of commerce building.
“All of these things show the importance of being good downtown neighbors and supporting the small businesses that make up the heart of our community during the holiday season – and all time,” Telia Butler, downtown development coordinator for the city, told the Daily News in mid-November.
Friday will also see open houses at the Warren County Courthouse and Bowling Green City Hall. The courthouse will be open from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Christmas on College Street, the city’s part, will go from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its own open house that day too.
Lost River Cave light up its water wheel, on Thursday, Dec. 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. alongside another new feature, Lost River Cave’s Merry and Bright Shopping Night.
The South Union Shaker Village just over the line in Logan County is also participating in Light Up events this year, hosting a holiday market on Dec. 5 and 6. Over 20 vendors will be set up at the site and attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the market for a canned food drive the village is holding those days.
Bowling Green’s Christmas parade will return on Saturday, hosted by the Bowling Green-Warren County Jaycees and carrying the theme “The Best Christmas Parade Ever.”
Monday’s lighting also celebrated the depot’s 100th anniversary. Johnson spoke on the significance the 100th anniversary holds for the depot.
“For this building to be built 100 years ago, the fact that it’s still standing today and still in service to the community, it’s a big deal.”
About Jack Dobbs
Jack covers city government for the Daily News. Originally from Simpson County, he attended Western Kentucky University and graduated in 2022 with a degree in journalism.
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