If you plan trips for a faith-based group or groups, you won’t find a better opportunity this year to share some time with similar travel planners than at the Going On Faith Conference coming up August 11-13 in Owensboro, Kentucky. This barbecue and bluegrass music mecca in far western Kentucky has a long affinity with spiritual travelers who value family, traditional music and heartfelt hospitality as they enjoy America’s beauty.
“We are so excited to be bringing our faith-based travel planners to Owensboro,” said Jennifer Ferguson, conference general manager. “Owensboro’s riverfront entertainment district and convention center are perfect for this group. If you plan faith-based trips, you should be with us in August to see everything Owensboro has to offer.”
“Hosting the Going On Faith Conference is a wonderful fit for us because our city is built on authentic hospitality and meaningful community connections,” said Teresa Jones, destination account executive for Visit Owensboro. “We are proud to welcome faith leaders and attendees from across the country and share the experiences that make Owensboro such a memorable destination.
“This gives us an opportunity to showcase what makes Owensboro a community where people genuinely care for one another. We hope every attendee leaves feeling encouraged, welcomed and inspired by the spirit of our city.”
Attendees can look forward to enjoying several specific events and venues that the city wants to showcase at the upcoming conference. Here are some of the highlights.
Exceptional Events
On the opening day of the conference, delegates will enjoy the city’s magnificent riverfront during a luau featuring dinner and entertainment on the Kentucky Legend Pier at the Owensboro Convention Center. This stretch of the Ohio River is a two-way shipping lane for dozens of river barges weekly that ply the wide waters of one of America’s longest rivers.
“We’d like for delegates to bring their best Hawaiian shirts and enjoy the riverfront ambience,” Jones said. “We’ll have a Tiki bar, and we may even give prizes for the best outfits!”
Delegates will enjoy an event at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, which showcases the area’s profound impact on the creation of bluegrass music and its international popularity. The museum is internationally known to musicians and fans of a genre of music that is truly an American creation.
“We are so proud of our bluegrass music traditions and stars, and this expansive venue is one every delegate will want to see and enjoy during their time in our city,” Jones said.
Planners are also in for a real treat when they attend an evening dinner at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, one of the best collections of art assembled by any city of its size in America.
“Our Owensboro Museum of Fine Art is one of our proudest possessions,” Jones said. “For a faith-based group, our Mildred Stout Fields stained-glass windows collection is a reason in and of itself to see this remarkable venue. Created by noted German artist Emil Frei, they would be a prized addition to almost any fine art venue in America.”
Sightseeing Opportunities
Delegates will enjoy a Western Kentucky Botanical Garden sightseeing tour and will also visit Cathedral Church, one of several historic churches in Owensboro.
“Our delegates will love the botanical garden,” Jones said. “It includes a beautiful stair-step waterfall fountain that is an amazing centerpiece for the visit. For a faith-based group, it will provide a place for reflection during a busy conference.”
Conference delegates will spend time in the riverfront Smothers Park and enjoy a downtown walking tour with a coffee-shop hop. Smothers Park is part of a riverfront development that few cities in America of Owensboro’s size can match.
“Smothers Park was named America’s best playground in recent years and includes amazing fountains, and the Charles Shelton Memorial is an inspirational tribute to POWs and MIAs, not only for those in Vietnam, but for all American wars,” Jones said.
Inspiring Stories
Delegates will be inspired by the story and faith of one of Owensboro’s favorite sons, Jason Koger, during his keynote address. Koger lost both hands in an ATV accident in 2008 and became the first person with bilateral arm amputations to use multi-articulating bionic hands. He now inspires others to live without limits. Koger shares his story nationwide, works with prosthetic companies Ossur and Arm Dynamics, and volunteers as a peer support at Vanderbilt Hospital.
“The entire community rallied around Jason and his family when this tragedy occurred,” Jones said. “He’s an amazing example for all of us, and his story is one everyone should hear.”
For registration information for the 2026 Going On Faith Conference in August, visit gofconference.com.
