COVINGTON, Ky. - Either winter is growing short, or an epidemic of cabin fever has inspired an avalanche of cool events.

 

This weekend in LoveTheCov, there’s the return of the Mardi Gras Parade, a five-course dinner and art experience, a hot bluegrass band, Cher’s dress exhibit, a self-defense seminar, yoga with puppies, a gathering for high-level soccer enthusiasts, a wine class, and more.

 

You don’t have to travel to New Orleans (by car, it’s 800.7 miles, in case you’re wondering) to enjoy Mardi Gras.

 

You just have to go to MainStrasse Village, where on Saturday the fatheads and beads will be out in numbers amid raucous music and dancing.

 

The family friendly parade starts at 7 p.m. at 9^th and Main and runs north. And of course you’ll want to eat and drink in the Village before and after.  

 

Info, HERE.

 

Yeah, The Carnegie is all about art and theater. Except Friday, when it’s about art, food and drink.

 

It’s “Art of Food 2020: Family Style,” the 14^th annual curated sit-down dinner experience benefiting the exhibition of emerging local and regional artists in The Carnegie Galleries.

 

It’s a five-course meal with five local chefs and restaurants. Details and tickets, HERE.

 

Vermont-born jam band extraordinaire Twiddle teams up with Montana-bred bluegrass outfit Kitchen Dwellers on Friday at Madison Theater.

 

(Warning: Strings might melt during this one.)

 

Oh, and $1 from every ticket goes to The White Light Foundation, the non-profit supporting Twiddle’s charitable causes.

 

Info and tickets, HERE.

 

Kentucky is basketball and basketball is Kentucky -- except when it’s soccer.

 

On Saturday at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub - the “Home Away from Home” for supporters of FC Cincinnati soccer - you’ll appreciate the fervor of that sentence.

 

It’s “The Pride SG 2020 Scarf Release Party,” the first chance for returning and new Pride members to pick up their membership packages. 

Food, drink and soccer talk. Info, HERE.

How many of us either served in the military or have friends and family who did (or continue to do so)?

 

The answer is “a lot,” so we’re including this: Ground will be broken Saturday in Latonia for a new, expanded, and more visible Covington Vietnam Fallen Memorial.

 

After the ceremony, folks are heading to the American Legion Post 203 a couple of blocks away for appetizers, a cash bar, and (we imagine) a lot of stories and not a few tears.

 

Information HERE and HERE.

 

No doubt you’ve already heard a lot about the Behringer-Crawford Museum exhibit featuring the lovely Cher’s fabulous beaded dresses.

 

Friday is the official opening reception of “From Rituals to Runways: The Art of the Bead.”

 

Displays, demonstrations and light appetizers. Info, HERE.

 

What is it?

 

It’s a Korean martial art that employs all sorts of close-range and long-range fighting techniques, plus teaches the use of traditional weapons - all for self-defense.

 

It’s also the style featured at a self-defense seminar this Sunday at Legacy Taekwondo taught by Master Larry Zickefoose and his daughter, Melinda.

 

Info and registration info, HERE.

 

We’ve written it before: On any given weekend, bars and clubs across LoveTheCov feature live music, sometimes nothing more sophisticated (but no less soulful) than a singer or two with a guitar and mouth harp sitting on a stool in the corner.

 

We can’t list them all, but we want to offer a reminder, because they’re worth checking out.

 

For example, at just one place - the Bourbon Lounge at Smoke Justis - this weekend alone: Tonight (Thursday) features the Ben Levin Duo, HERE. Friday, it’s Ricky Nye & Bekah, HERE. And Saturday it’s Leo Clarke & Larry Bloomfield, HERE.

 

Support your local musicians, and the places they play.

 

And then there’s .... Covington Farmers Market on Saturday morning at Braxton Brewing, HERE ... Quarterly Comedy Night on Friday to benefit the Lincoln Grant Scholar House, HERE ... Puppy Yoga on Sunday at Braxton Brewing, HERE ... the Polar Bear Express Pedal Wagon all weekend, HERE ... the Halo Arts Acting Class Experience! on Sunday at Pique, HERE ... the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines (wine certification) on Sunday at Ripple Wine Bar, HERE ... the 2020 Ignitor Maibock Tapping & Can Release party on Friday at Braxton Brewing Co., HERE ... and the Shamanic Journey Workshop on Friday at The Flying Cat, HERE.

 

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