Festival-goers with a penchant for antiques and vintage collectibles may want to mark their calendars for the Covington Heritage Antique Festival on April 18-19th. Headquartered at the Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire St., the juried event will feature an eclectic mix of antique furnishings, period collectibles, architectural salvage and vintage-inspired fine arts and crafts. Other attractions include a live auction, informal appraisals, classic cars, free historic walking tours, food and music.
The festival is hosted by the City of Covington in partnership with the Covington Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve the city’s culture, character and community. “By producing this festival, we hope to encourage more people to visit Covington, to enjoy our city, and spur the local economy for the benefit of our businesses and citizens alike,” said Mayor Mike Cooper.
The event is organized through the City’s Department of Cultural Arts and Events, which oversees and assists with more than 40 special events annually, including the Covington Three Rivers Art Festival, which attracts thousands of visitors to the downtown historic district each year. “We already have the experience, organization and infrastructure in place to produce a festival of this scope, with ongoing plans to enhance and expand its footprint next year,” said Covington’s Department of Cultural Arts and Events Manager Aimee Faucheux, who is organizing the event. “Thanks to events such as the Three Rivers Art Festival, which will celebrate its 19th anniversary this year, we have become adept at handling marketing, traffic, crowd control, hospitality and other important aspects associated with producing a quality festival.”
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with a live antiques and vintage auction, hosted by Auction Louisianne, beginning at 5:00 p.m. on the Covington Trailhead stage, extending the festival a bit on Saturday. Auction items will be displayed in the Trailhead Museum on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For questions about the live auction, call (985) 892-4451 or email info@auctionnola.com.
Another fun day can be spent “antiquing” on Sunday. A panel of experts will be stationed at the Covington Trailhead to host an “appraise-a-thon” from noon to 3 p.m. The public is invited to bring their treasures and curiosities and, for a small fee – $5.00 for one item or $10.00 for three items, they will receive an informal verbal appraisal. Categories include antique and vintage furniture, costume jewelry, military memorabilia, flatware, glassware, and collectibles.
Volunteers from the Covington Heritage Foundation will lend support by assisting with registration, hospitality, and hosting a welcome/informational reception for vendors. “We are delighted to help launch this new event. Hopefully it will raise cultural awareness and civic pride among local residents and give us a chance to show newcomers what a special place our hometown is,” said Covington Heritage Foundation President Sharon Nunez. Proceeds will be reinvested into programs that support the CHF’s mission to preserve the city’s culture, character and community. Volunteers are needed for the event. If you are interested in a volunteer role, contact Leslie Durio, Event Volunteer Coordinator, at email info@covingtonheritagefoundation.com. www.covla.com
