COVINGTON, Ky. - There’s no obvious theme for events this weekend in #LoveTheCov, so we’re not going to attempt any rhetorical gymnastics or semantic contortions in an attempt to be clever.

 

Suffice to say there’s a wide array of fun things to do, from the annual return of a much-loved holiday train display (and a little White House Christmas history) to a new beer honoring Covington firefighter tradition to a restaurant’s grand opening to an author’s acoustic concert to a local produce and painting tips festival.

 

And of course the Farmers Market, which in and of itself adds yoga, live music, and pet adoption to the sale of produce and unique goods.

 

Behringer-Crawford Museum’s holiday train display is back starting Saturday for the 27^thyear.

 

The Holiday Toy Train exhibit includes over 250 feet of model train track, vintage Lionel and Plasticville trains, Thomas the Tank Engine, and more than 30 moving, interactive displays. Also on display will be Wiley Wahoo's Winter Wonderland (an animated exhibit), and Dicken’s Village and its hundreds of miniature, hand-painted mansions. Info, HERE.

 

Behringer-Crawford will also host a collection of historic White House Christmas cards owned by Dennis Smith, president of Paper Products Company of Fairfield, Ohio. Smith and his wife will display and discuss their collection of Christmas cards and holiday ornaments from 2-3 p.m. Saturday. Info, HERE.

 

2^nd Saturdays at the Covington’s Farmers Market will continue to feature yoga and pet adoption at Braxton Brewing Co.

 

This Saturday, the Covington Farmers Market features yoga at 9 a.m., live music with Warrick & Lowell at 11 a.m., and pet adoption. You will also find a variety of local produce, meats and eggs, and things like soaps and lotions, teas, baked goods, sugar scrubs, jams, honey, prepared soups and salads, fermented foods, and lots more.

 

Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 27 W. Seventh St. Info, MARKET.

 

Madison Avenue will have a new eating option come Saturday, one described as “American pub food with a Southern and Creole flair.”

 

The grand opening of Rich’s Proper Food and Drink occurs at 5 p.m. at 701 Madison Ave. Info, HERE.

Want to get a taste of what it’s like to eat while blind?

 

Come to “Dining in the Dark” on Saturday evening at the Madison Event Center for a night of fun, food, and entertainment hosted by the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Diners will don blindfolds during the main course to experience the challenges faced by those with severe vision loss.

 

Info, HERE.

 

Afterward, walk over to “Dining After Dark,” the after-party featuring pizza, a dessert buffet, and drinks at ALTO Pizza Kitcken, starting at 10 p.m.

 

Info, HERE.

 

Add music to reading and java as one of Roebling Point Books & Coffee’s attractions with an event Saturday featuring the lyrical genius and novelist Robert Hunter.

 

Hunter will sign and promote his new novel, “Relapse,” while giving an acoustic concert in the intimate setting of Covington’s only Indie bookstore. Proceeds benefit breast cancer awareness.

 

Info, HERE. To learn more about Robert Hunter, HERE.

We’re not ones to promote sports events much, but the hue irony (aka the color optics) of this is too rich not to mention.

 

The House of Orange Sports Bar & Grill in Covington is hosting a watch party for the University of Kentucky-University of Tennessee football game on Saturday. So as not to be accused of supporting the orange-clad Volunteers, management is encouraging Wildcat fans - in this, one of UK’s best gridiron years ever - to change the House of Orange into a sea of blue.

 

Info, HERE.

 

Music, local produce, and painting tips are on the menu Sunday at Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center’s “No Starving Artists” dinner event.

 

Chef Tricia Houston of The Farmstand Market and Café will create a dinner inspired by produce from Baker Hunt’s campus garden. Other attractions include live music by Moonshine and Wine and a painting demonstration by Dj Berard.

 

Info, HERE.

 

Join the Covington Firefighters Auxiliary and Firefighters Local 38 on Friday evening in tapping their creation - “Strike a Bock” beer, named after an old nickname for how firefighters used to be alerted to a fire call.

 

Covington Fire Department merchandise will also be for sale.

 

It’s at Braxton Brewing Co. Info, HERE.

 

And technically this event is Monday, but we’re touting it anyway: historic Linden Grove Cemetery & Arboretum is seeking volunteers to help do landscaping and garden work from 9 a.m. to noon Monday.

 

“From never-evers to experts, we have something for everyone to do! Our grounds are just over 22 acres and it takes a lot of work each year to keep our parklike space peaceful and verdant,” the Cemetery says. As in it needs help.

 

Info, HERE.

 

Then there’s a “Holiday Card Making with Handzy” this evening at The Point, HERE ... A MasqueRAVE with Le Bal Masque ft. ChuckDiesel on Saturday at Octave, HERE ... “Yoga Makes Change” Class on Saturday at Rooted Yoga, HERE ... The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show on Saturday, HERE ... “Love and Warcraft” at The Carnegie all weekend, HERE .... and lessons in making “Decadent Truffles for the Holidays” on Saturday with Diane Haase, HERE.

 

###