The southwestern Pennsylvania festival that marks the start of fall
Enjoy food, shopping, regional history, and more at the signature fall festival of Washington and Greene Counties — the Covered Bridge Festival.
Rural Washington and Greene Counties in Pennsylvania’s southwestern corner are home to beautiful countryside and charming historical sites. The area is also home to a regional festival that marks the unofficial start of the fall season!
Held the third weekend of September each year, the Washington and Greene Counties’ Covered Bridge Festival pays homage to the 30 picturesque covered bridges (23 in Washington County and 7 in Greene County) that dot scenic Washington and Greene Counties, with individual festival celebrations taking place at about a third of these bridges each year.
In 2024, there are nine festival locations — nine covered bridges — where you can enjoy food, shopping, and festive fall fun.
When is the Covered Bridge Festival in 2024?
The Washington and Greene Counties’ Covered Bridge Festival is held the third weekend of September each year. In 2024, you can visit the nine festival locations between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22.
Where do I go to visit the Covered Bridge Festival in 2024?
There is not merely one covered bridge in Washington and Greene Counties, so the Covered Bridge Festival is not held at merely one location. In 2024, you can find festival food and drink, vendors, and activities at nine different locations — nine covered bridges throughout the two-county region. The covered bridges joining the festivities include:
- Brownlee Bridge in McGuffey Community Park in Claysville (Washington County)
- McClurg Bridge in Hanover Township Park (Washington County)
- Ebenezer Bridge in Mingo Creek County Park in Finleyville (Washington County)
- Henry Bridge in Mingo Creek County Park in Finleyville (Washington County)
- Hughes Bridge in Amwell Township (Washington County)
- Wyit Sprowls Bridge in East Finley Township Park (Washington County)
- Pine Bank Bridge within Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Avella (Washington County)
- Carmichaels Bridge in Carmichaels (Greene County)
- White Bridge in Garards Fort (Greene County)
What is there to do at the Covered Bridge Festival?
Each festival site has different food, entertainment, and activities, all coordinated by different heritage organizations, parks, volunteers, and other community groups. In this way, the Covered Bridge Festival is a handful of different festivals at once!
For all of the planned events for the 2024 festival, check out the official Covered Bridge Festival brochure, which also includes any special hours for individual sites. We’ve put together some highlights from each site. (And if you want to try to visit every covered bridge, the order of bridges below is the fastest way to hit each one!)
Ebenezer Bridge in Mingo Creek County Park in Finleyville
Visitors to this festival site will enjoy the sounds of a DJ, an arts and crafts marketplace, and several food vendors serving both sweet and savory eats.
Henry Bridge in Mingo Creek County Park in Finleyville
The site around Henry Bridge will have a large marketplace selling handmade items including jellies and jams, jewelry, fabric arts, soap, and candles. You’ll also be able to order savory treats like haluski and hot dogs as well as drinks like iced coffee and lemonade.
Carmichaels Bridge in Carmichaels
The Carmichaels Bridge site has a schedule of activities, including free face painting, wagon rides, and a loom demonstration. Entertainment includes live music performances, such as a dulcimer band. The site will also have a food truck each day and a vendor marketplace.
White Bridge in Garards Fort
History buffs may particularly enjoy the site at White Bridge. Reenactors will portray 1700s-era members of the Huron Tribe; separate reenactors will portray Civil War soldiers. Antique tool and quilting demonstrations will also take place. On Sunday morning, the site will host a worship service. Music at the site includes gospel music. Finally, enjoy an arts and crafts marketplace and homemade food from local nonprofits.
Hughes Bridge in Amwell Township
The Hughes Bridge will host a classic car show as well as tours of the historic Cook-Dodd Cabin. The site will also feature live music, an arts and crafts market, homemade food for sale, and raffles.
Wyit Sprowls Bridge in East Finley Township Park
This festival site will host a number of family-friendly activities, such as children’s crafts, family games, historic Jordan Schoolhouse tours, and a bounce house. A DJ will provide music. Food and crafts will be sold. Also expect a number of demonstrations, from roller derby to chainsaw wood carving.
Brownlee Bridge in McGuffey Community Park in Claysville
The Brownlee Bridge will host tractor and equipment displays, chainsaw carving, and rugmaking demonstrations. Live bands will play on both days, and arts and crafts vendors will set up alongside several food vendors.
Pine Bank Bridge within Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Avella
The main attraction at the Pine Bank Bridge site is the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village. The living history village includes not just the covered bridge but also a one-room school, blacksmith shop, and church. The site also includes a recreation of a 16th-century settlement of Eastern Woodland Native Americans. For an admission fee, you can also visit the Meadowcroft Rockshelter National Historic Landmark, an archeological site of the oldest area of human habitation, dating back 19,000 years.
McClurg Bridge in Hanover Township Park
On Saturday, this site hosts a vegetable contest and car cruise. Sunday hosts an apple pie contest—with samples! The marketplace will have arts and crafts vendors as well as food and beverages for sale. Also enjoy music and a children’s play area.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
