The 270 Chronicles tells stories within Bowling Green’s 270 area code, 270 words at a time, featuring niche events, organizations and people that make up our local community.
The second annual Downtown Duck Drop hosted by Downtown BGKY took place on Monday, Nov. 12. Downtown Development Coordinator Tessa Butler said the event raised over $1,000 for “downtown programs and free events.”
Butler said that 22 businesses donated to the gift basket for the winner. Some businesses included Houchens Food Group and Lily May Bourbon Co.
“My favorite part from the downtown business side is seeing them all come together to build a really great package that promotes themselves as locals,” Butler said. “This is your way to start your holiday shopping early, supporting small businesses.”
Butler said the idea for the event originated from the 1978 Turkey Drop episode of WKRP in Cincinnati.
“The radio station wanted to give away Thanksgiving turkeys to families in Cincinnati in the mall, but they rented a helicopter and thought that if they dropped live turkeys, they would fly down,” Butler said.
Butler said that the $1,000 raised from the duck drop will go towards the Duncan Hines Days programs in June. According to the website, the event is a celebration of “good food, great entertainment, and grand adventures.”
Butler said that the event was able to keep more of the money they raised this year due to the creation of the Better BGKY 501c3 nonprofit. The organization was created during the summer of 2024, and the board is made up of city staff and two private business owners.
“The whole idea of creating just a little bit of a weird spectacle, but doing it in a way that raises money to support downtown businesses and downtown programs,” Butler said.
