Going out

Oktoberfest: What sets the MainStrasse Oktoberfest apart from other area German celebrations is being able to enjoy sauerbraten, strudels, oom-pah music and all the accoutrements in an unmatched Old World setting. Opens 5-11 p.m. today, Sixth and Main streets, Covington. (859) 491-0458.

David Wilcox: The guitarist-singer-songwriter rolls into Jack Quinn's Emerald Ballroom with a batch of tunes from his new Into the Mystery, with opening act Kim Taylor. 8:30 p.m. today, 112 E. Fourth St., Covington, $25. 779-9462.

Art opening: Miller Gallery has a reception for the opening of a new show of work by the nationally renowned painter John Michael Carter. 6-8 p.m. today, 2715 Erie Ave., Hyde Park Square. 871-4420.

Improv comedy: The Friends of Lucy comedy troupe begins two off-the-wall nights of The Moron Report II, a news report-themed comedy show full of wacky sketches, improv and more. 9 p.m. today, Monmouth Theatre, 636 Monmouth St., Newport, $14. 588-0513.

On TV

Top pick: Grounded for Life (9 p.m., Channels 64, 26), the former Fox comedy, starts its first full season on WB with parents Sean and Claudia (Donal Logue, Megyn Price) learning that their teenage daughter (Lynsey Bartilson) has slept with her boyfriend (Bret Harrison), so they invite his parents over for a dinner with disastrous results.

• TV critic John Kiesewetter also says Barbara Walters interviews former Home Alone child star Macaulay Culkin, 23, who speaks candidly about his career, family, brief marriage to Rachel Miner and friend Michael Jackson on ABC's 20/20 (10 p.m., Channels 9, 2).

Opening today

Critic's pick: Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (PG-13), David Spade

• The Order (R), Heath Ledger

Planning ahead

24 hours out: Southern rock faves 38 Special play the Belterra Casino. 8 p.m. Saturday, Switzerland County, Ind., $25. (888) 235-8377.

48 hours out: The Comair Mini Grand Prix fund-raiser turns downtown streets into a mini Indy-style race track to benefit the Arthritis Foundation, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Fifth, Sixth, Broadway and Sycamore streets, downtown, free. 271-4545.

Next weekend: Festival Hispano (Hispanic Festival) has grown exponentially in the last few years to become a supernova-like explosion of salsa bands, folk dancing, Latin food offerings not found in area restaurants, craft vendors and a ton of surprises. Noon-10 p.m. Sept. 13, noon-8 p.m. Sept. 14. St., Charles Borromeo Church, Fairpark and Seymour avenues, Carthage. 761-1588.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail: jknippenberg@enquirer.com; fax: 768-8330