HGTV says KY has one of the most charming downtowns in US. It’s not in Lexington
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- HGTV named Covington one of America's 40 most charming small downtowns.
- Covington's German-American heritage shapes its architecture and festivals.
- MainStrasse Village draws visitors with beer pubs, live music and bell tower shows.
The most charming downtown in Kentucky isn’t found in Louisville, Lexington or Bowling Green, but in a bustling river city that may be overlooked.
That’s according to popular home renovation network HGTV, which recently included Covington in its guide to 40 of the most enchanting small downtowns in the country.
Downtowns with unique histories, beautiful architecture, nature escapes and incomparable dining and entertainment largely made HGTV’s Sept. 17 article. Covington joins locations as varied as Athens, Ga., Greenville, S.C., Bar Harbor, Maine, Charlottesville, Va., Taos, N.M., and others.
“Being named by HGTV as one of the ‘40 Most Charming Small Downtowns in America’ is an incredible honor for Covington,” Mayor Ron Washington said in an emailed statement via a spokesperson. “From MainStrasse Village to Latonia and beyond, our neighborhoods, restaurants, and historic character make Covington a place people love to visit and are proud to call home.”
What makes downtown Covington, KY so charming?
Covington stands out for its distinct downtown influenced by its German-American heritage.
Germans have been immigrating to Kentucky since immediately after the Revolutionary War, particularly Northern Kentucky, where they are among the region’s earliest settlers.
A major wave of migration occurred in the mid-19th century, when populations were booming across western Europe and available farmland was scarce. Many Germans decided to try their luck in America, as the country was expanding, rather than live as tenant farmers back home. As the U.S. industrialized, many were drawn to its cities, a local historian told LINK nky.
Those influences show up in the feel of Covington’s downtown today, as HGTV notes.
“You will feel worlds away in Mainstrasse Village, the lively 19th century German-inspired section of town. The colorful Bavarian-style village is enchanting year-round, drawing in visitors eager to see the Goose Girl Fountain and the Carroll Chimes Bell Tower. On the hour, mechanical figures exit the top of the tower as the glockenspiel plays. Raise a beer stein to celebrate Bavarian culture and heritage with music, dancing, bratwurst and lederhosen at the annual Covington Oktoberfest festivities.”
Mainstrasse Village features several unique shops and galleries, restaurants, beer and bourbon pubs and entertainment venues with live music. It also hosts several festivals and events throughout the year, including an Oktoberfest.
The Carroll Chimes Bell Tower, named for former Kentucky Gov. Julian Carroll, is located in Goebel Park. The 100-foot German Gothic clock tower chimes with a glockenspiel clock featuring mechanical characters that act out scenes from The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
Covington has previously received accolades, including from Food & Wine, which described its food scene as a place where “where smooth bourbon meets savory goetta, and North meets South.”
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