Parades, fun runs, watermelon eating contests, food and art are on tap next weekend, July 16-18, during the annual Covington Days Festival.

Friday night will kick off with a barbecue at Covington Christian Fellowship at 5 p.m. followed by fireworks at 10 a.m.

This year the fun run and walk as well as the parade down Southeast 272nd Street will be expanded, explained Karla Slate, who serves as Covington’s representative on the festival committee.

In addition to the Grand Parade there will be a Kiddies Parade and the fun run will begin at Kentwood High. Both take place Saturday morning, with the fun run and walk starting at 7:30 a.m. and the parade at 10 a.m.

Covington sponsors the watermelon eating contest as well as the Council Challenge, among other activities, with the challenge being a new tradition for Covington Days that began last year.

The council members enjoyed it and the challenge will only get better this year, Slate told the Reporter in May.

Organized by the Covington Lion’s Club, the festival is supported by the city of Covington, Valley Medical Center, MultiCare and Fred Meyer.

A significant portion of the city’s support goes toward booking entertainment such as favorite The Reptile Man, as well as performers like Rae Solomon, Audacity Factor and Alleyoop!

Another new feature of the festival will be the beer garden at Covington’s newest eatery, 2seven2, something that is a win-win for festival organizers and the restaurant, Slate said.

Judy Swanberg, co-chair of the festival and member of the Lions Club, said many of the familiar favorites return this year including the Kids Zone, the art show in MultiCare, all kinds of vendors, food, crafts and entertainment as well as carnival games and rides.

For more information on the Covington Days Festival, log on to

www.covingtonfestival.com or call the message line at 425-432-9140.