Where is the Covered Bridge Festival held in Indiana?

This area’s largest tourist event of the year – the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival – is back for a ten-day run.   And if you are perhaps new to the area, Neysa Jones, Executive Director of Parke County Incorporated, explains what it is…

{AUDIO:  ‘’We have 31 covered bridges in Parke County, so each year we have a 10-day festival to celebrate that and highlight tourism in Parke County.  We have ten different festival locations throughout the county and we have different driving routes where you can see the covered bridges and stop at the festival locations to shop along the way.’’}

The Covered Bridge Festival begins Friday (October 14, 2022) and runs through October 23rd.   The town square in Rockville, Indiana serves as the hub for the event but Jones notes several other towns in Parke County join in the fun….

{‘’This is the biggest event for Parke County of all of the year. A lot of the smaller communities really rely on the tourism that is built by this festival.  And the economy really, really booms in October for Parke County.’’}

This is the 65th Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, and Jones was asked what she thinks has kept it going….

{AUDIO:  ‘’You know, I think it’s just the love for this type of event.  It’s fall in Indiana. It’s beautiful.  The bridges are the highlight.  And people that don’t live around here don’t get to see that.  So when they come to Parke County, they’re seeing scenes that they don’t get anywhere else.’’} 

{Neysa Jones, Executive Director of Parke County Incorporated.}

There are multiple routes that visitors can follow to view the bridges….

{AUDIO:  ‘’There are five different driving routes.  They are all color-coded, and you can pick-up a Parke County map with all of those routes on it at the Parke County Visitors Center.’’}

The visitors center is located just east of the square in Rockville.

You can drive the routes yourself or board tour busses at the Rockville square during the festival.  In addition to the bridges, visitors can enjoy the food, craft sales and fall colors along the routes.  It is estimated that between two-million to two-million, 500-thousand people will visit the area during the 10 days of the festival.

Called "Indiana's largest festival," the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival kicks off Friday Oct. 14. The festival runs through Oct. 23. The 10-day festival always begins on the second Friday in October, showcasing the 31 historic covered bridges in Parke County, along with featuring authentic arts and crafts, food and fall foliage.

When does the 2022 Parke County Covered Bridge Festival run?

The festival runs Oct. 14-23. There are 10 festival locations throughout the county.

Daily hours run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Sunday, Oct. 23 hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about each location, visit the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival site.

Also check out this map of all the various locations.

Bellmore

Bellmore is located on US 36 and SR 59. Pumpkins, mums, primitives and family yard sales. A little bit of everything. Click here for more.

Billie Creek Village

Home to three covered bridges and several historic buildings including a school house, two churches, Governor’s home and a General Store. Click here for more.

Bridgeton

Bridgeton has an array of handmade crafts, vendors and a food court. Its scenic historic district includes the Bridgeton Mill and Covered Bridge, the 1878 House, 1822 Case Log Cabin, and Bridgeton School.

Bloomingdale

Bloomingdale offers chicken and noodle dinners, ham and beans, barbecue and vegetables at the Friends Meeting house. They say some of the best apple butter is made and sold here. Click here for more.

Mansfield

Mansfield Village is bustling daily with hundreds of vendors offering an array of goods and festival food. Home to the Historic Mansfield Roller Mill. Find more here.

Montezuma

Montezuma features crullers, roast hog and beans, guided tractor pulled wagon tours of the Wabash and Erie Canal, and vendors. Stroll across the Wabash River on the restored historic B&O Railroad Bridge. Find more here.

Mecca

The Mecca One-Room Schoolhouse is nestled tightly between a cornfield and the Mecca Covered Bridge. It was built back in 1874 but was relocated to this spot in 1966. It was recently renovated in 2021.

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Indiana’s Mecca Tavern Has Been Slinging Tenderloin Sandwiches Since 1899. Tucked away in the small town of Mecca, Indiana is a tenderloin tavern that everyone should visit. If you love good food and good drinks, this place will surely satisfy. Find more here.

Rosedale

The Rosedale Civic Center is the activity hub with a wide variety of items, including local crafts and a quilt sale. Find more here.

Tangier

Located at Tangier Community building right off of 1050 N (look for the sign.) World Famous Buried Beef served daily with a variety of homemade pies. Local crafts. Visit Sandlady’s Gourd Farm. Five covered bridges nearby for touring. Find more here.

Are pets allowed at the Indiana Covered Bridge Festival?

Because of the layout of the event and thousands in attendance, it is recommended that your pets remain home. If you bring your pet you might have limited access to buildings and grounds unless you have a service animal.

Do I have to buy tickets for the Covered Bridge Festival?

You do not need tickets for the Covered Bridge Festival. You can purchase tickets for bus tours at parkecountyindiana.square.site. Bus tours are available Oct. 14-22.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Parke County Covered Bridge Festival 2022: What you need to know

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