Every October, Parke County, Ind., turns into one giant fall festival. The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival runs Oct. 9-18 across a handful of small towns in western Indiana, and it’s about three hours from Cincinnati or Dayton. It’s a long drive for apple butter, but the drive is half the point.
The Covered Bridge Capital of the World
Parke County has 31 historic covered bridges, more than any other county in the country, and it calls itself the Covered Bridge Capital of the World. For 10 days every fall, the county’s small towns fill up with craft booths, food stands and demonstrations, timed to the fall color. Admission is free and no tickets are required.
Where to Go
Each stop has its own personality, so pick two or three rather than trying to do them all in one day.
- Rockville: Festival headquarters, set up on the courthouse lawn, with wood carving demonstrations, antique stores and art galleries. Start here if it’s your first trip.
- Billie Creek Village: Three covered bridges, historic buildings and a general store, all within walking distance of each other.
- Bridgeton: The working Bridgeton Mill sits right next to the Bridgeton Covered Bridge, which makes it the most photographed stop of the festival.
- Mansfield: Home of the historic Mansfield Roller Mill and its own covered bridge, plus a large craft market.
- Mecca: The 1872 Mecca Covered Bridge and a historic schoolhouse.
- Montezuma: Wabash and Erie Canal tours and traditional festival food.
- Tangier: Known for its buried beef, slow-cooked underground. Locals line up for it.
- Bloomingdale: Homemade apple butter and local crafts.
- Rosedale: Handmade crafts centered around the civic center.
- Clay Plant Market: Handcrafted goods from local makers, plus coffee vendors.
Seeing the Bridges
The bridges are spread across the county on color-coded driving routes. You can download a map or request a printed one from Visit Parke County’s trip planning page, or pick one up at the visitors center in the 1883 train depot in Rockville. Country roads, fall leaves and a covered bridge every few miles keep kids looking out the window instead of at a screen, at least for a while.
If you’d rather let someone else drive, the county runs guided festival bus tours Oct. 9-17 from the Parke County Courthouse in Rockville. The North Route stops in Tangier and Bloomingdale and passes five bridges, including West Union and Rush Creek. The South Route covers Montezuma, Mecca and Rosedale and five bridges, including Sim Smith and Thorpe Ford. Tickets are sold online.
Tips for Parents
- Get there early. Weekends get crowded, and traffic between towns backs up by late morning.
- Bring cash. Some rural vendors don’t take cards.
- Dress in layers. Indiana mornings in October can start in the 40s and end in the 70s.
- Map out your towns ahead of time. Cell service can be spotty on the back roads.
- Don’t buy tickets. The festival is free. Organizers warn that scammers are “selling” tickets online, so don’t send anyone money.
Festival Details
- Dates: Oct. 9-18
- Hours: Most locations are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tangier is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Rockville stays open until 8 p.m. on the first Saturday, Oct. 10.
- Cost: Free
- Headquarters: Parke County Courthouse lawn, Rockville, IN
- Visitors center: 401 E. Ohio St., Rockville, IN 47872, 765-569-5226
- More info: Parke County Covered Bridge Festival official site
