Arts and Entertainment Aplenty

While its culinary scene is the subject of lengthy accolades and dedicated food reviews, Covington also has a thriving arts and cultural community replete with opportunities to meet and support local artists. This year’s A Taste of Covington leads up to Spring for Art on April 11, an annual celebration of the visual, performing, and culinary arts. 

Find handcrafted goods from local and regional artists in a wide variety of mediums at the St. Tammany Art Association’s Covington Arts Market, held the first Saturday of each month at Lee Lane. Those with thespian talents are welcome at the Playmakers Theater, a volunteer-run community theater organization open to all with a fond flair for the daring and dramatic. Playmakers has staged productions since 1955, located in the San Souci Forest, and produces five shows each year, as well as a holiday play and children’s theater camps during the summer. 

For all the live music lovers, Covington has no shortage of free concerts, either. From March through October, head out to Columbia Street for the Sunset at the Landing series, a free concert on the third Friday of every month. Grab a folding chair and a dance partner and take in local and visiting artists performing jazz, blues, bluegrass, and more along the scenic Bogue Falaya River. Throughout April and October, the Rockin’ the Rails concert series returns to the Covington Trailhead for free live music performances every Thursday. Downtown Covington is also known far and wide for its free neighborhood block parties and classic car shows, which shut down the 200 to 500 blocks of Columbia Street every final Friday of the month from March through October. It’s a community-wide social with all the benchmarks of a good party: live music, local vendors, and most importantly, good food and drink.

Mark your calendars for the return of Bluesberry Festival on May 30 at Bogue Falaya Park. The family-friendly riverside fest features a main stage with music all day, dozens of art vendors, food trucks, a children's village, and more. Snag your tickets at thebluesberryfest.com.

This fall, keep an eye out for Covington’s White Linen Night—the Northshore edition of New Orleans’ artsy summer block party—in August, and the Three Rivers Art Festival in November. Whichever season, Covington has plenty of fun fêtes, community events, and artistic affairs to keep you and yours entertained all year long. To explore further or plan out your weekend fun, visit gocovington.org.