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RockvilleWhat do hundreds of vendors, lots of people, chicken noodles, apple dumplings, and the outdoors have in common? The answer: they’re all part of the largest outdoor festival in the United States, over the course of seven days, in the middle of the Covered Bridge Capital of the world. People from all over the Midwest travel to Parke County to experience the fall feels the Covered Bridge Festival brings to their memory book. Some families have traveled across the United States for consecutive years to purchase items from legacy vendors and take-in the best food America has to offer. Just like there is no place like home, there is no place like the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. For over 64 years, the festival has touted thousands, even millions, of visitors each year. In recent years, over two million visitors annually took advantage of the historic event, celebrating the county’s 31 covered bridges. The back country roads lead visitors to covered bridges which represent untold stories. It’s hard to imagine what those bridges have experienced, from momentous occasions to the world’s toughest moments, including this past year. The bridges are an iconic staple of Indiana’s tourism menu.
At the center of Parke County is one of the most famous Indiana downtowns with brick roads, historic buildings, a five-and-dime store, and more. People travel to the downtown for its well known boutique stores, antiques, and unique hometown dining options. It’s a stop for many families visiting the famous Turkey Run State Park. Families travel to Parke County to experience canoeing, kayaking and tubing, purposefully undeveloped with beautiful covered bridges in its backdrop. |
