By William Croyle
Enquirer contributor

Kevin O'Conner (left), Craig Worstell (center) and Mick Noll cook a 64-foot, 40-pound goetta sausage in a giant skillet at a kickoff brunch Thursday in Goebel Park, Covington, for this weekend's Glier's Goettafest. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

The long string of summer festivals continues this weekend with German and Irish heritages at the forefront in Covington and Newport.

The third annual Glier's Goettafest will take place in Covington's MainStrasse Village on Saturday and Sunday, an event that has drawn nearly 10,000 people each of the last two years.

Goetta - a German breakfast sausage consisting of pork, beef and pinhead oatmeal - has been made by Glier's Meats in Covington since 1946.

"I started making it when I was 12 years old, just like my dad," said owner Dan Glier, whose late father, Bob, started the company after serving in World War II. "This festival has been a good way to promote our product and bring families down to MainStrasse."

Goettafest will include food booths, beer, arts, crafts, music and games for kids and adults. There will also be many variations of goetta available, including goetta burgers, bun links, hoagies, pizza, tacos and burritos.

The goetta burgers and bun links have been a hit this year at Great American Ball Park.

The 19-employee business sells nearly 1 million pounds of goetta a year through retail stores.

"As far as we can determine, we're the world's largest producer of goetta," said Mark Balasa, marketing director for Glier's. "And this is the only festival this focused on a regionally unique food."

In Newport, the first-ever Irish Heritage Festival will take place on Riverboat Row today through Sunday.

The event is sponsored by Coldiron Concessions and the Fenians of Northern Kentucky, a nonprofit organization that promotes Irish culture and heritage programs.

"This is the first strictly Irish festival in the area for a weekend," said Tom McGovern, co-chairman of the event. "We see this as the first of many."

Entertainment will take place on three different stages - a main stage, pub stage and cultural stage.

Music will be provided by local, regional, national, and international performers. There will also be dancers, a live theater, history presentations and genealogy.

This will be the second big festival in the city to take place in a 10-day period. The annual Italianfest was held last weekend.

"Last week, everybody in Newport was Italian," said Newport City Manager Phil Ciafardini. "This week, everybody's Irish."

If you go

Glier's Goettafest 2003

When: Saturday and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. both days

Where: West Sixth Street in MainStrasse Village, Covington

More information: 491-0458 or www.mainstrasse.org or www.goetta.com

Irish Heritage Festival

When: Today, Saturday, Sunday.

Where: Riverboat Row in Newport, below Newport on the Levee

More information: (513) 761-9911 or Web site