BY CATHERINE TSAI
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- From Cincinnati, South Carolina and California, they set up tents in Randolph Park for the 12th annual Old Timers Day, Covington's neighborhood reunion.
Scores of neighbors, friends and former classmates mingled in "Tent City" on Saturday in what was expected to be the busiest day of the three-day event that began Friday.
Organizers expected about 1,000 people over the weekend to stop by to mingle and enjoy sports tournaments and live music.
Greg Mitchell, who was born in Covington, flew in from Germany with his wife and 10-year-old son for the event. He said it was worth the trip.
"The last time we were here, I didn't get to see a lot of my classmates and friends, and last night I saw a lot of people I haven't seen in 20 years," he said.
Relative newcomers were more than welcome.
"Everybody treats everybody like family here," said Frank Matthews, 33, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. Matthews moved to Covington about five years ago. "I feel it's No. 1," he said.
He pointed out tents to his right and left, saying they were his bedroom and dining room for the weekend. Two grills in front of him were his kitchen, and a large table under a canopy was his living room.
Some campers arrived at the park at 12:01 a.m. Friday to stake out a good spot.
Saturday afternoon, volunteers set up children's game booths and vendors sold frozen lemonade, waiting for more tents to fill the park.
William "Pettus" Blackford said he and coordinator David Housley helped start the event 12 years ago when some friends decided to camp in the park.
Now friends from across the country are planning vacations around Old Timers Day to socialize day and night for three days. Many, like Debra Simpson Childress of Gardena, Calif., and Dorothea Gray of Charleston, S.C., graduated from high school together more than 20 years ago and are returning to their birthplace.
"It's the only time we get to see each other, other than a bereavement," Mrs. Childress said. "But this is a good time."
Ron Stone of Lexington watched friends play softball during his first Old Timers Day.
"I like it, and the people are friendly," he said. "I will be back."
