COVINGTON, Ky. – Get ready for a busy, fun-filled weekend in The Cov.
With Father’s Day, Juneteenth, National Bourbon Day, and World Refugee Day on the calendar, there will be no shortage of activities and celebrations.
There’s also a very cool book launch (in a roomful of cats!!), a fund-raising dinner to support local farmers at a beautiful historic Covington vineyard, an artist event, a food tour, spectacular live music, and more.
Suffice it to say, you’ll be scratching your head wondering how to pack this much fun into your weekend. Make it happen.
One might make the case that every day in Kentucky is Bourbon Day, of course. But on Friday the entire nation celebrates the rich heritage of America’s native spirit with National Bourbon Day, (which we submit ought to be dubbed “Kentucky Appreciation Day”).
If you are partial to this amber-hued libation and its rich history, then you’ll want to go to the National Bourbon Day Celebration at Smoke Justis or National Bourbon Day with OKBB at Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar.
Smoke Justis will have an all-day Bourbon Happy Hour (Invite the boss to join you), a bottle shop blowout sale, and all-day discounts on single barrel pours. OKBB is offering two OKBB Single Barrel Select pours at discount prices and will pull out three rare bourbons from its vault to make the “OKBB Legendary Flight.”
Mind you, these are just two of Covington’s 11 spots on The B-Line, Northern Kentucky’s self-guided bourbon tour.
The Juneteenth Freedom Day Parade is on Saturday, but Juneteenth festivities start on Friday with a Juneteenth Career Fair at the Kentucky Career Center. Don’t miss out on that event because there will be more than 30 employers and it’s an opportunity for job-seekers to meet employers in person and learn about their job openings. It will include a focus on re-entry programs and resources.
Juneteenth Freedom Day Parade on Saturday will start lining up at Randolph Park at 10 a.m., and then culminate into the Juneteenth Day of Celebration at Covington Plaza. That’s where the Black Excellence Awards will take place, along with Juneteenth Bingo, a fashion show (Juneteenth colors only in any style – doesn’t have to be “African Wear”), entertainment, food and drink, Spoken Word, a children’s dance contest, kids’ activities between noon and 8 p.m. (including a Bounce House, games, prizes Champ Camp, Kona Ice, and face painting). Vendors will also have booths promoting programs, resources, and initiatives offering community support.
Did you know that Kentucky ranks fourth in the nation in the number of refugee arrivals? In fact, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, which is located here in The Cov, has resettled 511 refugees since it opened its doors here in 2021.
June 20 is World Refugee Day, a day to celebrate the strength and courage of those who forcibly fled their home country to escape conflict or persecution. Kentucky Refugee Ministries and RefugeeConnect are partnering to celebrate on Saturday for the NKY World Refugee Day Festival at Goebel Park, presenting a day of fun, global arts, cultural festivities, and food.
Remember that song from Disney’s “Aristocats?” That line that went: “A cat’s the only cat who knows where it’s at?” Think about it. You ever seen a cat that didn’t look completely confident, maybe bordering on aloof? They’re the bombdiggity, and they know it. As such, it’s no surprise to learn that cats are leaders in promoting body positivity, as evidenced in author and illustrator Morgan Coleman’s new book.
Coleman, who happens to be the sister of Purrfect Day Cat Café proprietor Chuck Patton, is keenly aware of cat body confidence. She does, after all, have access to a veritable research lab.
On Saturday, the “This Cat is Fat and I’m Fine with That!” Book-Launch Pawty with Kittens at Purrfect Day Cat Café will introduce Coleman’s story of a furry friend that’s adopted from a café (inspired by Purrfect Day, no less), and feature a children’s reading of the book in the cat room, followed by a book-signing event in the café’s courtyard. Cats are also discerning critics, so let’s hope they approve.
Farm to Fork: A Fundraiser for the Covington Farmers Market at Monte Cassino Vineyards on Saturday is an evening of food items from local growers, as well as drinks, music, and a raffle to help raise funds to support and sustain the market.
It’s also an evening to enjoy a Covington gem.
Monte Cassino Vineyard is 20 acres nestled in a valley and hillside in Covington. It was one of the first vineyards in the country, known as the E.A. Thompson Vineyard. (That’s right, our Kentucky ancestors weren’t sippin’ solely on bourbon).
In 1877, the property was purchased by Benedictine Monks, who named it after the original monastery founded by St. Benedict in Italy’s Monte Cassino. Like so much in The Cov, it is history restored to life, in this case preserved and given a modern twist.
Farm to Fork presents a fine opportunity to check out this beauty and support local growers at the same time.
Sunday is Father’s Day, and thanks to a couple of events here in The Cov, dear old dad won’t have to grill his own hot dogs and burgers for his celebratory meal.
Father’s Day Morning Jams & Juice with Nat Jones at Braxton Brewing Co. on Sunday will have coffee and juice bars, plus a bubble machine, face painting, Graeter’s Ice Cream, and crafts to keep the kiddos happy. Father’s Day Jazz Brunch at Juniper’s is its first jazz brunch ever, and it will serve up good food and the poignant sounds of the Cadence Okuwobi Quartet.
Tonight: Music@BCM Presents Soul Pocket at Behringer-Crawford Museum … The Missy Werner Band at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant … Cole Baker Quartet at Juniper’s … Sonny Moorman at Smoke Justis.
Friday: Marty Connor Trio at Smoke Justis.
Saturday: Veronica Grim with Chalk Eye, Noah Wotherspoon, and Easy Mark at The Village Theater … Covington Metal Fest III at Madison Live … The Newbees: The Middle Years at Wunderbar … The Windjammers at Juniper’s … Briz Acoustic at Smoke Justis.
Tonight: Thursday Thirsty Bingo at Frosthaus.
Saturday: Covington Farmers Market at 425 Madison Ave. … Goebel Park Pollinator Garden Maintenance at Goebel Park … MainStrasse Village Food Tour … Art in Action: Emily Rose at Purple Paisley, Local Artisan Shop … Live Pro Wrestling at Hits Indoor Baseball and Sportsplex.
Sunday: Music Bingo at Frosthaus.
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