PARKE COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– Over the past 10 days, Parke County has seen thousands of people come and enjoy the Covered Bridge Festival.
Sunday marked the final day people could take part in all the festivities of the Covered Bridge Festival. The covered bridge festival is home to some of the best sights and sounds the state has to offer.
It brings thousands of visitors, and hundreds of vendors, each year like Dan Ohlemacher. He has been selling his meat and cheese products here for over 40 years and goes over how this year went for him.
“We’ve been doing good. We have been here over 40 years, and this is our fourth year in this building. The covered bridge is always up and down with the weather, but it has been good this year just like every year in the past,” said Ohlemacher.
The Village Blacksmith is one of the main viewing attractions at Bridgeton. While the career is going out of style, you wouldn’t be able to tell with the interest on Sunday.
Ross Brown is the owner of The Village Blacksmith, and he explains why he loves coming out to Bridgeton.
“It’s fun putting on a show for the kids, other blacksmiths, and other people that just come through. It gives them a little bit of a timeout from doing all their shopping,” said Brown.
All of these things make The Covered Bridge Festival so special and what keeps people coming back year after year.
“We come every year because of all the people that come. You never know who you are going to see. People from different country, different states, different cities. It’s a good turnaround and good place to sell all your goods at and see different people,” added Ohlemacher.
The crowds won’t be away from Bridgeton for too long as they have their Country Christmas Festival in November.