Hardin County Events June 2–7: Glow Night & More

Key Takeaways

• Malibu Jack's first-ever Family Glow Night is Thursday, June 11, 6–9 PM — tickets are limited, buy ahead at malibujacksetown.com.
• Hardin Local is giving away a $50 Malibu Jack's gift card live on next week's show.
• Bean Cove holds its official ribbon cutting Wednesday, June 3 at noon, 1509 N. Dixie Hwy.
• Two free outdoor picks this week: Heartland Winds "Out of This World" at Freeman Lake (Thu) and "The Sandlot" on the lawn at United Way (Fri).
• Saturday's Ladybug Release at the library returns with the Garden Club of Elizabethtown, 10 AM.

Summary

Jon O'Brien brought one of the fuller event calendars of the season to Hardin Local Weekly S2026E23 — a stretch of nights running from a stuffed-animal sleepover to free concerts, a King of Pop tribute, and a community-favorite ladybug release. The week leads with a sponsored highlight: Malibu Jack's first Family Glow Night on June 11, the show's Events-segment sponsor this week.

For families and night-out planners alike, it's the kind of week where the hardest part is choosing. Jon walked the table through every day from June 2 to June 7, with venue, time, and a reason to go for each.

Watch this segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzTYjlVvp6w Full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c98g4e2AHMA Read the full S2026E23 recap: https://hardinlocal.com/podcast/s2026e23-pillar/

Full Article

There are slow weeks in Hardin County, and then there are weeks like this one. Jon O'Brien opened his segment the way the whole episode was framed — with a nod to the bugs — before getting down to a calendar that genuinely had Rachel checking her own schedule on air. "Every week, John, you bring us so many cool events," she said. "I'm literally over here checking my calendar as you read."

The headline is Family Glow Night at Malibu Jack's, Thursday, June 11, from 6 to 9 PM at 1704 N. Dixie Hwy in Elizabethtown. It's the park's first time doing it — lights off, everything glowing, with live DJ James Hummel on lights and smoke, giveaways every 30 minutes, a transformed glowing entryway, multiple photo-op backdrops, and airbrush art from Eddie Milburn. Wear neon. Tickets are limited and sold ahead at malibujacksetown.com: General Admission for ages 5 and up is $25, VIP is $35 (adds a tote, tumbler, and meal ticket), kids 4 and under are $12, and non-participating parents get in free. Malibu Jack's is this episode's Events sponsor, and Hardin Local is also giving away a $50 Malibu Jack's gift card — the winner revealed live next Tuesday. As Jon put it, "There is limited space, so we need to make sure if you want to go, you get your tickets."

The week itself starts soft and sweet. Tuesday, June 2 brings the Stuffed Animal Sleepover at the Chick-fil-A by the mall, 5:30–7 PM — drop off a stuffed animal for an overnight adventure and pick it up Wednesday morning. ("They are not going to be paying rent at Chick-fil-A," Jon noted. "You gotta snag them back up.") There's also a Mountain Bike Clinic at Saunders Springs in Radcliff and a summer screening of "Smurfs" at the Historic State Theater.

Wednesday is the Bean Cove ribbon cutting at noon, 1509 N. Dixie Hwy — the new coffee shop moving into the former Nuts About Coffee space, a nice tie-in to Nate's Business Buzz segment.

Thursday stacks up fast: live music with Jonathan Paxton at Heartland Mini Golf (6–9), the Charles W. Logsdon Historic Downtown Walking Tour at 7 (meet at The Cannonball — and yes, you can carry a drink while you learn local history), the free Heartland Winds "Out of This World" concert at Freeman Lake at 7:30 (bring your own chair), Tavern in the Garden at the Brown-Pusey House, and karaoke with DJ Jimmy at Bourbon Barrel Tavern.

Friday is where Jon will be — at the free showing of "The Sandlot" on the lawn at United Way of Central Kentucky, starting around dusk. The same night offers a community blood drive at Baptist Health Hardin, a hands-on Sushi Night at Clean Good Eats, MJ The Illusion at the Historic State Theater (tickets $46.50–$98.50 — and Jon's warning: "Don't be getting swindled by anybody saying that they're more than that or less than that"), and Boogie G & The Titanics at Cosmic Golf.

Saturday features the returning Ladybug Release at the Hardin County Public Library at 10 AM, run with the Garden Club of Elizabethtown — a fun thematic wink at this week's pest-control sponsor (the good bugs, this time). Also: a North Hardin Marching Band car wash at Colton's in Radcliff, the Cousins Maine Lobster food truck at O'Reilly Auto Parts (11–7), Meet the Masons at Morrison Lodge (12–4), and John Langley taking requests live at Cosmic Golf.

The week closes Sunday with the King's Royal bowling tournament at Strike & Spare ($60 entry, 10 AM) and a National Garden Week Kickoff at Freeman Lake from 2 to 4.

It's a big week. Pick a couple, bring someone with you, and go.