COVINGTON, Ky. – There’s a brand-new festival in town this weekend that celebrates two favorite things in The Cov: bourbon and inclusivity. Bourbon & Belonging happens all across Kentucky this weekend, and there will be no shortage of fun to be had here in our backyard.
There’s also a neighborhood pumpkin sale, a cool art class, a 5K, a meteor shower to watch, live music, art exhibits, and more happening.
The first LGBTQ+ inclusive bourbon festival in the entire country happens this weekend, and since The Cov is where y’all really means all, there are some fine events taking place at some of the Covington venues that you know and love.
Bourbon & Belonging: Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week takes place all across Kentucky with eight different cities and regions signed on. It’s going to be a premiere event for LGBTQ+ bourbon fans from Kentucky and beyond. Here’s how you can navigate your way through this weekend’s events in The Cov:
There’s the Grab The Bar Flight at Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar that runs tonight through Sunday … Bourbon & Smoke at The Standard tonight, featuring an Old Forester and Heaven Hill tasting … The Metropolitan Club Presents: The Business of Bourbon and Belonging, featuring Rawnica Dillingham, CSO of New Riff tonight … Hotel Covington Presents: Arts & Crafts, A Creative Cocktail Experience tonight … Wenzel Whiskey’s VIP Bourbon Blending Tasting Experience on Saturday … Revival Vintage & Spirits Old Forester Bottle Release Event on Saturday … Bourbon & Burlesque: Cin City Burlesque Revue Presents Giggle Water at Juniper’s on Saturday … and The Opal Rooftop Experience: B& B Drag Brunch with Full Breakfast Buffet on Sunday.
Move over impatiens and petunias because the season of Curcubita genus is upon us.
No one expects you to be a pumpkin spice disciple, but now is the time to place proper fall accoutrement on your property. Gourds and pumpkins are just plain cool. And mums, while smelling like a funeral home, come in an array of colors that range from bright and cheery to dark and gloomy, appealing to every seasonal mood.
And who doesn’t love a gourd, that, when held at the right angle, bears a striking resemblance to your great uncle? Or one that grew itself into the gnarly shape of serpent? Or one so knotty that you’re reminded of why you’re grateful for skin care products?
If you like your gourds with personality, and your pumpkins either diminutive or behemoth, you’ll find them aplenty – plus lots of colorful mums – at Saturday’s Mutter Gottes Annual Pumpkin Sale. In its third year, it’s kind of the “It’s officially fall, now” event in The Cov.
Be sure to bring the kiddos, because there’s going to be face painting and a pumpkin-painting station.
There will be no cats involved at Saturday’s Princess Kool Kat Art Class at Purple Paisley, Local Artisan Shop on Saturday, other than the one that springs from your imagination to an 8-inch canvas board.
Local artist Tim Gold will lead you step by step in crafting your very own Princess Kool Kat masterpiece in this class that’s designed for both the seasoned artist and those simply looking for a creative experience.
For a small fee, all materials are supplied by the artist. Just show up with your imagination and enthusiasm.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Thrive Empowerment Center Thrive 5K Run & Walk at Devou Park Volpenhein Shelter on Saturday is a community-action event designed to bring people together in the spirit of promoting healthy relationships and ending domestic abuse.
Participants can expect a fun-filled morning of walking, running, and cheering on others as they complete the course. There’s also going to be a community fair where folks can chat with Thrive community members about the many classes offered at the Thrive Empowerment Center, as well as connect with local resources offered at The ION Center for Violence Prevention and the YMCA.
Given that the first quarter moon is on Oct. 10, odds are you’ll have a sufficiently dark canvas (aka,“sky”) to view rare celestial magic at Covington Parks and Rec’s Astronomy Night: Experience The Draconids Meteor Shower at Hands Pike Park on Sunday.
The Draconids shower is considered a bit of an oddity in that you’ll see more Draconids in the evening hours than in the morning hours after midnight. There’s also always the chance, though perhaps a slight one, that the Draco constellation, or “Dragon” constellation, could spew hundreds of meteors in a single hour.
Tonight: The Missy Werner Band at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant … Mean Jeans, the Dopamines, and Laylow at Madison Theater … Son Little with AC Sapphire at Madison Live.
Friday: Bravoartist Presents Bad Luck with Crush at Madison Live … Mick Blankenship at Madison Theater … Leroy Ellington at Smoke Justis.
Saturday: Cincinnati Rock and Roll Harvest Fest at Madison Theater … Brandy and The Beard at Smoke Justis.
Tonight: Familiar Faces Exhibit at the Behringer-Crawford Museum … Southern Democratic Exhibit at The Carnegie … Cigar Night at Smoke Justis.
Friday: Familiar Faces Exhibit at the Behringer-Crawford Museum … Southern Democratic Exhibit at The Carnegie.
Saturday: Covington Farmers Market at 425 Madison Ave. Parking Lot … MainStrasse Village Food and Culture Tour … Familiar Faces Exhibit at the Behringer-Crawford Museum … Southern Democratic Exhibit at The Carnegie. … The New Moon Witches Market at George Steinford Park at the 6th Street Promenade.
Sunday: Familiar Faces Exhibit at the Behringer-Crawford Museum.
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