A new booklet highlighting the Covington area, complete with maps of the historic downtown area, will focus on retailers, galleries, restaurants and other cultural and shopping venues.

The proof copy of the merchant’s shopping guide was reviewed at Thursday’s meeting of the Covington Area Retailers Association meeting at the Trailhead.

Plans for upcoming events, including Three Rivers Art Festival, Christmas in the Country and the Mimosa Stroll were also discussed. Three Rivers Art Festival will take place next weekend from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. More than 190 artists from 25 states will participate with arts demonstrations, a children’s area and art show, entertainment, music and food flooding the downtown area. Last year about 50,000 visitors came to Covington over the two-day festival.

An effort to include Lee Lane in the art festival was discussed and merchants will be meeting with the Three Rivers committee after the event to discuss how they can participate and be more included next year. The problem with including the street as part of the venue, is that an interruption in the flow of the exhibitors might result in the loss of both visitors and exhibitors the following year. The fest has taken 13 years to evolve and to be successful on Lee Lane, and it is believed that another leap in the number of exhibitors and visitors is needed before extending the length of the venue.

Christmas in the Country will begin the day after Thanksgiving and will continue every weekend until Christmas. The event includes music, Christmas specials in some of the shops and plenty of holiday spirit.

A highlight of the season this year will include a mimosa stroll Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. featuring special sales, promotions and, of course, mimosas.

The organization is seeking to become an official association with board members, bylaws and a way to delegate and coordinate the tasks that are needed in order to execute events and venues such as Spring and Fall For Art, Christmas in the Country and other activities in the city that affect merchants.

Director of CARE Cliff Bergeron, said that the time has come for everyone to share in the duties of planning the events, delegating the jobs, establishing itself as an association. Bergeron said this is his goal for the organization for next year.

The organization began as an outreach of the Economic Development Committee and has since grown into a separate organization dedicated to the well-being of the businesses in Covington, particularly in the downtown area.

One concern of area merchants is parking downtown. Ron Willette said that many year ago a survey was conducted and striping done downtown for parking. In many cases, haphazard parking is taking up space that if properly managed and striped could provide space for more motorists. This possibility will be considered for the future.

As part of its identity, CARE is developing its own Web site that will feature, among other attractions and special events in the city, links to participating merchant Web sites. A Web consultant presented a program on existing software that enables groups to build their own site with little expertise needed for updating information.

Future plans for the organization may include some television advertising as well.

Dates were also set at the meeting for major events for next year: Spring for Art will be April 17; Bastille Day celebration July 10; and Fall for Art Oct. 16. The art dates are moving from their traditional second Saturday to third Saturdays next year because of conflicts with Easter, LSU games and other area events.