COVINGTON, Ky. – October has flown by like a witch on a new broom … but before we start pondering whether we’ll be roasting or deep-frying a bird for that next holiday, let’s celebrate the holiday that is upon us: Halloween.
This weekend in The Cov, there’s trick-or-treat (from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, so get your candy ready), and plenty of events celebrating costumes, scary stuff, and all things orange and black. But Covington being what it is, there are plenty of other cool things to do as well that are entirely unrelated to a good scare.
From murals to a movie, mimosas and a marathon, and Legos® to local art, we got you covered.
(All of this, of course, while riding that steady sugar high.)
The Center for Great Neighborhoods knows that a great way to bring people together generally involves fun – and generating ideas and energy around new street murals sounds fun.
The first step – tonight – is an online “Street Murals Doodle and Chat Session,” and you’ll join other artist volunteers who are contributing images/ideas for street murals. (The “drop-by online” event is going on now.)
The second step happens on three dates in November, when you and your family can join local artists in custom painting some crosswalks in the Eastern Neighborhoods.
More, HERE.
Ah Legos® … you can build entire kingdoms with them – but if you’ve ever put the arch of your bare foot down on one of those interlocking plastic bricks in the middle of the night while hurrying to a crying toddler, than you know they’re quite dangerous as well.
Starting Friday and running through Sunday, Legos® will be all over the place at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center (but hopefully not just lying about on the floor).
“Bricks, Tricks and Treats” features custom Lego® constructions, Lego® vendors, and interactive exhibits. It’s hosted by the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana Lego User Group – or OKILUG – a nonprofit social club of fans of the toy.
(Who knew this group existed? Do funds from the event go toward medical bills for parents crippled by Legos®? Is it a coincidence that the group was founded by a paramedic, from Northern Kentucky?)
Who doesn’t marvel at Lego® creations, and check out some extraordinary ones this weekend.
Details, HERE.
Jamila Watson – Insights & Research Advisor for FedEx Services – is serving up those aptly named cocktails on Friday at soHza sister Fairtrade Boutique.
She’s the “Change Maker” bartender in a “ghouly (yet girly) takeover” of soHza’s “Sips & Shopping” event.
It’s a “Glam-O-Ween” and they suggest you get their early “while the pours last.” Details, HERE.
Roll up on your bike, curl up in your blanket, and catch a special spooky Halloween edition of Bike-in Movie Night at Roebling Point Books & Coffee on Friday. And show up early, because the good folks at Queen City Bike, RoPoBoCo, and Lil’s Bagels have some Fall festivities planned.
Costumes are encouraged … there’s a mini trick-or-treat for the kiddos and young at heart (oh, if only one could trick-or-treat for books!) … and there will be seasonal beverages to keep folks warm. Lil’s will bring the beverages and snacks.
Film starts at 7:30ish. Details HERE.
Don’t expect anyone else to throw a Halloween party like a bunch of hockey players: When you play hard (and these guys do), you know how to throw a good party too.
On Saturday, the motley crew of the Covington Street Hockey League (Trolls! Misfits! Devils! River Rats! Goats! Shields!) is celebrating Halloween with its “Night of the Living Send Part 2: Return of the Bubs.”
The party starts at 11 a.m. at Barb Cook Park and there’ll be a hockey tournament … beer trucks from Braxton Brewing Company and West Sixth Brewing … food trucks … merchandise to buy … games … and costume contests for kids and adults. The party goes “all day long!” Details HERE.
Ever wonder how art gets picked for a museum? It’s not as easy as you’d think.
Words like “power” … “privilege” … and “potential harm” might not immediately come to mind when considering the scope of an art curator’s work, but the participants on Saturday’s Zoom-based discussion know otherwise.
“Curatorial Practices: Avoiding Potential Harm,” aims for a thoughtful discussion about the weight and responsibility of a curator’s work.
Among the participants will be Matt Distell, exhibitions director for The Carnegie. More HERE.
Artist Antonio Adams presents his “Violet % Generous 2# of 2021” Artwork at Pique art gallery on Saturday.
It’s a Halloween party too, and the artist requests that guests sport tropical attire (think pink, turquoise, peach, violet, tan, green, magenta, Caribbean blue, Navy blue, and yellow).
Adams is a self-taught, multi-disciplinary artist in Cincinnati … he’s a co-founder of Visionaries + Voices, an arts organization for artists with disabilities … and he’s had exhibitions all over the world, like The Museum of Everything in London, The Outsider Art Fair in New York, and the Country Club Gallery in Los Angeles.
How cool that you can see his work in The Cov. More, HERE.
For some of us, dressing up like a witch and dancing is just a typical weekend night.
But Saturday at Madison Live!, it’s an opportunity to join a coven (cadre?) of fellow ghouls, goblins, witches, and warlocks for a night of dancing and slam dancing (watch those pointy hats, friend!).
The official title is “Chanelloween: A Spooky Dance Party” … and as for what that means – hey, if you know, you know.
Expect DJ Coco & friends to pull out all the dark, witchy jams … new wave … goth … emo … nu metal … punk … pop punk … Halloween classics … and plenty of “witchy sounds.” Details, HERE.
It’s a grand time for fall produce and the fine vendors of Covington Farmers Market are producing some of the best. This Saturday, there’s more: Hampton Ridge Farm will offer a FREE sausage tasting.
That seems appropriate, of course, given that the Flying Pig 10K will loop over into Covington that morning, which is a good segue to this: 4th Street will be closed to through traffic, so consider alternate routes. Find details and route suggestions HERE.
After a year off because of the pandemic, the Flying Pig Marathon & 10K Race returns this weekend, and Covington’s streets will be some of the pavement that is pounded.
Runners in both Saturday’s 10K and Sunday’s marathon/half-marathon will cross into Covington over the Licking River (using the Veterans Memorial Bridge) and proceed along 4th Street before turning north onto the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. Learn more about the race HERE and Covington road closures HERE.
If you’re a better cheerleader than runner, line the course through The Cov and help create a steady chorus of encouragement and applause. Or you can cheer while you sip a Bloody Mary or mimosa at …
“Hallo-Weekend at Roebling Point” on Saturday and Sunday is a two-day watch party being billed as “the biggest Flying Pig Watch Party” in the tri-state and a Bengals (vs. the Jets) watch party.
It starts at 7 a.m. Saturday, takes a break overnight, and returns on Sunday. Six bar/restaurants in Roebling Point are participating with all sorts of specials: Keystone Bar & Grill, Smoke Justis, Frosthaus, Eishaus, Covington Yard, and Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant.
Details, HERE.
You know who in the animal kingdom will be decked out for Halloween? Dogs.
Thank you, Crafts & Vines for knowing that there’s nothing better than seeing a Chihuahua stroll down the street in demon horns … a Havanese in sequins … a Boxer in a Batman cape … or an Affenpinscher in a flying monkey costume. (If an Afghan shows up as Moira Rose, we will 100 percent lose our minds in pure joy.)
Show up with your furry friends in costume Sunday afternoon, check in with the bartender to fill out an entry form, get your entry number, and have your dog’s picture taken for Facebook voting.
Most FB “likes” wins prizes (oh dear, what message are we sending to our dogs?)
Details HERE.
And then there’s …. the Spooky Secrets Tour in The Cov on Friday and Saturday, HERE … an Outdoor Poetry Reading & Book Signing by three poets on Saturday on Lil’s Pati-yo, HERE … Scarlet Begonia’s Flower Truck at Purrfect Day Cat Café on Sunday morning, HERE … Covington Yard’s 1st annual Halloween Party on Saturday, HERE … the EP Halloween Party with Eggy on Friday at Madison Live! HERE … and Halloween Hoopla (for kids) at Behringer-Crawford Museum on Saturday, HERE.