COVINGTON, Ky. - Ever since it was first settled, Northern Kentucky has seemingly suffered an identity crisis centered on a simple question: Are we part of Kentucky, or of Cincinnati?

 

This weekend, you’d think there would be no doubt. After all, it’s the first Saturday in May, y’all, and our eyes should be pointed at a starting gate 101 miles away.

 

There are plenty of places to celebrate Derby Day in Covington, which also happens to be May 4^th (and cue all the “May the Fourth be with you ...” snappy rejoinders, plus associated festivities. And then of course Sunday is Cinco de Mayo.)

 

But ... Cincinnati will also be pulling on our attention because this is Flying Pig race weekend. The 10K race will circle through Covington on Saturday morning and the marathon will come through Sunday. Both routes come across the Fourth Street bridge from Newport, follow Fourth Street and then cross into Cincinnati via the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge.

 

If you can’t make it Louisville, go to downtown Covington. A multi-block area around Pike and Madison will be home to the Covington Trifecta Derby Party, and you’ll be sure to see plenty of fancy attire walking to and from Hotel Covington, Braxton Brewing Co., The Hannaford, Sapphire Room and Rich’s Proper Food & Drink.

 

Get your “program” stamped at three of the locations and you’ll be entered for a pretty amazing prize package. Info, HERE.

 

But you can celebrate the Derby elsewhere as well, including at:

 

It’s Opening Day of sorts Saturday morning for the Covington Farmers Market as it moves back outdoors to its Third Street location between Greenup and Scott.

 

Come see your favorite farmers, makers, and bakers and welcome some new vendors as well. There will be live music, plus libations of the grape, distilled and brewed sort.

 

Info, HERE.

 

Know your way around a shovel? Got a green thumb? Are you a tree hugger?

 

The City of Covington and its Urban Forestry Board are recruiting volunteers to help plant about 75 trees along streets in Latonia on Saturday morning.

 

It’s fun and rewarding work - even if your back is sore the next day. Meet about 8:30 a.m. or so to get a Moonrise doughnut, some coffee from The Bluegrass Barn, and a little instruction.

 

Register if you can. Info, HERE.

 

Continuing the green thumb theme, Holy Cross High School is holding its annual flower sale on Saturday morning to benefit the Missy Goller Scholarship Fund.

 

All sorts of plants will be available, including some veggies.

 

It’s 9 a.m.-11 a.m. in the playground/parking lot on Church Street.

 

And if planting’s not your thing, but you DO want to do your part to beautify Covington, you can head to Goebel Park on Sunday morning for the second-annual cleanup.

 

Meet at 10:30 a.m. Then at 3:30 p.m., you can head to Wunderbar, where organizers suggest you enjoy MadTree and Rhinegeist brews.

 

Info, HERE.

 

Are you a Star Wars freak? (It’s perfectly understandable if you are.)

 

Left Bank Coffeehouse is holding its “May the 4^th be with you ... Star Wars popup photo booth” on Saturday.

 

Come get your picture taken with a storm trooper, C3PO, R2D2 or the man (man-machine?) himself, Darth Vader. And drink some of that awesome Left Bank java.

 

Info, HERE.

 

With a strong Latino community, Covington needs - and now has - a vibrant resource center catering to that population.

 

Friday evening, Esperanza will host an open house and dedication at its 234 W. Pike St. location. Come learn about all the great programs offered there.

 

Info, HERE.

 

Covington’s Stan Bowman burst onto the racing scene in 1962 with a historic victory at the Eldora Speedway.

 

The locally written John Lucas book, “The Bravest of Them All - The Legend of Stan Bowman,” highlights his rise, and now a film inspired by the book will be shown at Trinity Episcopal Church on Friday evening.

 

Info, HERE.

 

And then there’s ... ... Bachelor & Bachelorette Trivia Night on Friday at Keystone Bar & Grill, HERE ... a 20-minute casual run Friday evening organized by Roebling Runners, HERE ... a mountain bike skills clinic (focusing on log rollovers, drops, cornering and switchbacks) on Sunday morning at Devou Park, HERE ... Cinco de Mayo at Keystone Bar & Grill, which is opening at 9 a.m. Sunday so patrons can cheer on the Flying Pig runners, HERE ... and the Northern Wrestling Federation bouts Saturday evening at Hits Indoor Baseball and Sportsplex, HERE.

 

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