Shaken, Stirred & Styled: Junior League of Owensboro’s Battle of the Bartenders

Written by Summer Aldridge

Downtown Owensboro brought the energy as the Junior League hosted its annual Battle of the Bartenders at The Lot, a lively night where bartenders from across the region went head-to-head, crafting their best cocktails using Junior League’s signature bourbon. The result was equal parts competition, community, and creative flair.

From the first pour to the final toast, the event was a total vibe.

A Welcome With Personality

Guests were greeted by Quinn, our double acrylic welcome sign styled with customized vinyl in JLO's bold red signature color. The customer-provided JLO letters were filled with balloons for a playful pop, while red and white gingham cocktail tablecloths tied effortlessly into The Lot’s casual, urban vibe.

To keep things flowing smoothly, we strung our red and white gingham pennant banners along the existing line of bourbon barrels, creating a cute, functional barrier that felt intentional and on-theme.

Photo Ops & Crowd Flow

No event like this is complete without a photo moment. Pearl, our digital photo booth, paired with Greenlee, our greenery wall, gave guests a place to capture the night between sips. We added simple balloon towers on either side of Greenlee, creating another opportunity to add JLO's branding through vinyl on the balloon toppers.

Details That Made the Difference

Tables were styled with a mix of fun and function. Centerpieces featured playful mini footballs tucked into assorted vases, amber glass with glowing LED candles, and mason jars wrapped in black-and-white striped cardstock and finished with a referee whistle. Black-and-white striped runners pulled in a subtle ref-inspired nod, tying the whole look together without taking itself too seriously.

Thank you to the Junior League of Owensboro for trusting our team to help bring this celebration to life.

Cheers to creative bartenders, signature bourbon, and a night well spent.

SB Blueprint Comparison

Every event we design starts with a Something Borrowed Blueprint, which is a custom plan that maps out the vision before it comes to life.

You can download JLO's blueprint here and compare it with how the night turned out IRL!

Planning your own celebration? Let’s build your Blueprint together! Get in touch here to schedule a complimentary event consultation!

About the Author

Summer has been planning events since she could talk. From her sister’s Spongebob-themed birthday at age 7 to Hopkins County’s first (and only) “End of Middle School Blowout” (every ticket came with a free hot dog, and yes, the DJ brought a fog machine), she’s always had a knack for bringing people together and making it memorable.

In college, she hosted everything from sorority formals to nonprofit fundraisers, and today her experience spans hundreds of nonprofit and corporate events, concerts, festivals, and more weddings, birthdays, reunions and showers than she can count.

If you're looking for an event planner with an eye for detail, a heart for people, and just the right amount of bossiness to keep things running like clockwork, Summer’s your girl.