Midwest Living magazine – Indiana’s largest festival is an “Absolute Must for Small Town Charm and Covered Bridges”

Quiet and scenic Parke County comes alive each October when “Indiana’s largest festival” celebrates its bridges and local communities, as Midwest Living magazine profiled in its September 2025 issue..

Imagine stepping back in time as you wander through a landscape dotted with 31 historic covered bridges, the oldest dating to 1856. Welcome to Indiana’s Parke County Covered Bridge Festival—the state’s largest festival and an autumn tradition since 1957.

This 10-day October celebration (Oct 10-19, 2025) transforms a peaceful western Indiana county into a vibrant showcase of small-town hospitality, architectural heritage, and mouthwatering regional specialties. What began as an effort to highlight the bridges and unite local communities has blossomed into an unforgettable fall experience.

Nine Towns, Endless Discoveries

Nine charming towns host official celebrations, each offering unique foods and attractions. The culinary journey alone is worth the trip. Savor apple butter from a Quaker church in Bloomingdale, smoky buried beef cooked in a pit in Tangier, hot sugar-dusted crullers in Montezuma, and pawpaw fruit bars in Mecca. Don’t miss the festival-famous pumpkin loaf at Bridgeton Mill, where you can purchase flour milled on-site at one of the Midwest’s oldest continuously operating mills.

Beyond the food, there’s plenty to explore. Browse crafts and even craft sodas at Billie Creek’s general store, hunt for treasures at Mansfield’s flea market, or step back to the 1900s at Billie Creek Village, a living-history museum. In Rockville, find Martha Presslor’s Original Sassafras Candy, sold at the festival since 1957.

The Stars of the Show

Of course, the covered bridges are the main attraction. While buses shuttle tourists along two routes to photograph these architectural celebrities, exploring with a map in hand offers a more intimate experience. Marshall Bridge, built in 1917, is just one of these treasures scattered around the county like portals to another era.

Each bridge has its own unique setting and character, with historic signs reminding visitors to “Cross This Bridge At A Walk”—a gentle invitation to slow down and soak in the atmosphere.

Whether you’re drawn by the architecture, the food, the crafts, or simply the charm of rural Indiana in autumn, the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival delivers an authentic slice of Americana that’s increasingly rare to find.

Source (and to read more): Midwest Living, Sept 2025 Read more from Parke County Convention and Visitors Bureau here. 

Photo courtesy of Parke County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau