is a Labor Day Weekend Must
Come join a peaceful setting of yesteryear when visiting the Ft. Rowdy Gathering in Covington, Ohio. A depiction of a bustling, small trading village set in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s is what you will experience when you enter the Covington Community Park during Labor Day weekend.
Falling leaves and the smell of open fires lure you to the “Gathering” along with the homemade foods and arts and crafts that will have you wanting to linger throughout the weekend.
If you love good food and a great time, just amble on down to the Fort Rowdy Gathering for the taste sensation of a lifetime. Your nose will enjoy the aroma and your mouth will water in anticipation of the wonderful choice of foods you can enjoy at the Gathering.
You could be one who enjoys lemon shake-ups or strawberry shake-ups served by the Piqua Aikido Club. Or maybe you will be lured to the tent of the Covington Church of the Brethren and the Covington Outreach Association to get a taste of their delicious homemade chicken and noodles along with the great fall favorite, apple dumplings. (Hurry-they sell out quickly!) They also have coffee and hot chocolate and a large variety of cookies and donuts.
If you are looking for a snack, you might want to visit the Covington United Church of Christ booth for a sugar waffle with your beef barbeque sandwich, IBC Root Beer or Cider. French fries, shredded chicken sandwiches, brats burger, mini corn dogs, pumpkin rolls and funnel cakes can be purchased from the Covington Eagles Aux.
St. John’s Church is cooking up cabbage rolls along with mashed potatoes. Take along their fresh fruit cups for dessert. Boy Scout Troop 76 will have brats, metts, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, nachos and cheese and loaded nachos.
Young Life of Miami Co is serving pork fritters, blooming onions, breaded chicken sandwiches, cheese sticks and poppers. Check out their breakfast of gravy and biscuits or the mountain man breakfast. If you like pulled pork sandwiches and chips stopover to A.B. Cole Post 80 American Legion.
Cannons Fast Pitch will be cooking up steak and pizza burgers. If you are looking for something to put on top of your pie or apple dumplings stop by Fort Rowdy’s ice cream booth. They will feature Susie’s Big Dipper ice cream.
As you can see, they try to please everyone’s appetite and avoid duplications so you can have a big choice when it comes to the taste buds. Now there have to be several items mentioned that could lure you down to the Gathering-and they know you wouldn’t want to miss out on any of it.
The Fort Rowdy Gathering is not only a gathering of people but a gathering of crafts also. They strive to bring you a wide variety of talent and interests at this event. There are ceramics of all kinds, country crafts, painted wooden items, angel food cakes, decorative afghans and throws, flower arrangements, blacksmithing, painted pumpkins and gourds, do it yourself sand art, and period trade goods just to name a few.
Free live entertainment will be provided on the festival side, as well as, food vendors from local non-profit organizations and craft vendors. Encampment activities include: Hawk & knife, spear throw, bow shoot, lizard pull, flint & steel, cooking contest, and rolling pin & skillet toss along with many games and contests for the children. Prizes will be awarded at camp meetings. A Sunday morning worship service will be held at the encampment stage.
Authentic demonstrations, contests, games and entertainment add up to fun and enjoyment for the whole family. And the 208’ long portable footbridge will carry you across the scenic Stillwater River to the Mountainman Encampment and a true feeling of the life of a by-gone era.
Covington Community Park is located on St. Rt. 36, just west of St. Rt. 48 north of Covington. The “Gathering” runs all day and offers free admission and parking.
