News

Maifest, River Sweep & puppies

COVINGTON, Ky. –  It’s a good weekend to have fun and do good in The Cov. And yes, you can have and do both at the same time, in many instances. 

Maifest returns to Goebel Park on Friday with plenty of German festival fun, and on Saturday volunteers will make their way to the banks of the Ohio River for River Sweep’s major tidying up.

If you find yourself fatigued from all the fun and good efforts of this weekend, head to Purrfect Day Cat Café and snuggle with some pups. (Yes, you read that correctly. Scroll down.)

Old-fashioned German fun

Celebrate German history starting Friday when Maifest kicks off at Goebel Park and runs through Sunday.

Of course there will be plenty of beer, good food (likely many German culinary staples), live entertainment, and the always lively and colorful Maypole dancing.

A clean sweep

Volunteers will descend upon the banks of the Ohio River early on Saturday morning (and you should be among them), for the Covington “leg” of the national River Sweep activities.

Expect muddy shoes and sore muscles and expect to see more than your share of straws, cigarette butts, fast food-wrappers, and maybe an occasional television, Big Wheel, baby doll, or shopping cart. But be prepared to feel a sense of accomplishment and time spent with good folks.

Covington’s Solid Waste & Recycling Division partners with Keep Covington Beautiful on the event, and their aim is to not only pretty up the river’s edge but also to keep trash and debris out of the water itself.

Blue Together

Celebrate mental awareness month at a community celebration Saturday focused on the power of creativity.

Blue Together: Celebrating the Power of Creativity and Support for Mental Health at the Hellman Creative Center will host local creators while local mental health resources will be on hand with information about services and support. And of course it wouldn’t be a true blue event without a little indigo dyeing, so Art Equals will host their first dye party of the season, where you can bring your cotton tees to create unique designs.

The event is free for all ages and abilities.

Art on Scott

Purple Paisley, Local Artisan Shop’s Scott Street Local Artisan Market on Saturday is your opportunity to support local artists and score unique gifts for yourself and others.

The market happens on the corner of Scott & 8th streets, just a half a block down from the Purple Paisley shop, which you ought to stop in if you have a chance because it’s packed with cool local art. At Purple Paisley, you can buy a piece, learn the artist’s story (and often meet them in person), and then revel your guests with interesting accounts of what inspired the piece, how it was made, and what challenges the artist might have overcome. 

Aloof cats host their arch-rivals in cuteness

You know how Purrfect Day Cat Café has all those adorable felines just waiting to find their forever home? (3,645 of them, at last count.) And sometimes they’ll invite you over to play, paint, or do yoga with them?

This weekend they want you to stop in and see if you might inclined to adopt a puppy.

You read that correctly. Those partying, painting, yoga-loving felines are opening their doors to a bunch of adorable, adoptable puppies, because cats, though often wrongly maligned as aloof, are actually a generous and gracious sort. Plus, with PDCC’s fabulous record for finding homes for their cats, it’s no wonder pups want in on that action.

The PDC Covington Puppy Shower and Adoption Event on Saturday and Sunday at Purrfect Day Cat Café will take place outside in the café’s new courtyard. For a $10 donation, you’ll get a 30-minute cuddle session with adoptable pups. All proceeds go to help animal rescue efforts of the three participating shelter partners.

Kid business

Children’s Entrepreneur Market Covington at Maifest in Goebel Park on Sunday is a farmers market run entirely by kiddos.

It’s the first time Northern Kentucky will host this nationally recognized market. The Children’s Entrepreneur Market is an award-winning program that teaches young people about the power of entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership through experiential learning. The program started out in Utah but quickly expanded to 24 states, including Ohio and Kentucky. The organization is supported by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.

The kids should be manning about 50 booths, so be prepared to spend some bucks and support them and the program.

Live music

Tonight: The Missy Werner Band at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant … The Chuck Brisbin Trio at Smoke Justis.

Friday: Houseplant at Madison Live … Freak Mythology at The Rooftop at Madison Theater … Chris Comer Trio at Juniper’s … Leroy Ellington at Smoke Justis.

Saturday: Hyrider (Tribute to The Grateful Dead) at Madison Theater … The Blender Bash 3: Class of 2024 Edition at Madison Live … Paradise Gonzolitos at Juniper’s … Chantelle & The Digs at Smoke Justis.

Miscellaneous

Tonight: Wine Tasting at Crafts & Vines.

Friday: Accomplices Not Allies: LGBTQA+ Advocacy 101 (Lunch & Learn – Hybrid) at NKY Pride Center and via Zoom.

Saturday: Covington Farmers Market at 425 Madison Ave. … MainStrasse Village Food Tour. … The Big Covington Playdate at Kenton County Public Library.

 

###