COVINGTON — Goetta ready, Greater Cincinnati.

        Organizers pledge the second annual Glier's Goettafest will be big this year, with everything from goetta coneys to calzones.

        By popular demand, organizer Artie Kidwell said, the family-friendly event in Covington's MainStrasse Village has been expanded to two days. The June 22-23 festival in and around Goebel Park is expected to draw about 14,000 people, more than twice last year's turnout.

        Goetta (pronounced get-uh) — a German comfort food of steel-cut pinhead oatmeal, pork and beef seasonings — will be featured in omelets, pizza, sausage, tacos, burritos, burgers, coneys, reubens and melts — even fudge, said Mark Balasa, director of sales and marketing at Glier's Meats in Covington.

        “We've asked each of the eight (food) vendors to carry two goetta items as well as two other non-goetta entrees that might be their specialty too,” Mr. Balasa said.

        “Since we did our first goettafest last year, there have been multiple calls every day of the week asking when this year's fest would be,” said Mr. Kidwell, president of the co-sponsoring MainStrasse Village Association.

        “People absolutely loved Goettafest,” said Mr. Balasa. “They thought it was a great family event, and they enjoyed being with other people who shared their love of goetta.”

        This year's Goettafest will include more activities for children — including an inflatable village, face painting and a petting zoo — as well as live music and more food booths, both goetta and goetta-free, organizers say.

        Returning as the Goettafest king will be Dick Von Hoene, of TV's Cool Ghoul fame.

        Live music will include Appalachian dance; traditional, unplugged and folk rock; blues; flamenco-based world beat acoustic guitar; and big band jazz. Game booths will help raise funds for the Covington Community Center, the Covington Fraternal Order of Police, the Covington Neighborhood Collaborative and the St. Walburg nuns.

        Unlike other major festivals in MainStrasse Village, Goettafest will be alcohol-free.

        “I think we've stumbled on something that I like to call a warm and fuzzy,” Mr. Kidwell said. “So many people in Greater Cincinnati have grown up with goetta. It enjoys the same kind of uniqueness as coneys and chili and White Castles.”

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