Parke County Covered Bridge Festival – Bloomingdale

The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival in Bloomingdale, Indiana, is a 10-day autumn event held from October 10 to October 19, 2025. It celebrates the county's 31 historic covered bridges and is Indiana's largest festival, founded in 1957. The festival showcases authentic arts and crafts, local foods, scenic fall foliage, and unique community specialties across nine Parke County towns, including Bloomingdale.

The Bloomingdale stop features making and selling homemade apple butter, hot soups available at the Friends Meeting House (the historic Quaker Church), and local crafters offering handmade primitive creations. The festival atmosphere is festive and family-friendly, with handicapped-accessible venues and a focus on heritage and local craftsmanship.

The event runs daily from 9 AM to 6 PM countywide, centered at Rockville (the county seat) where vendors and artisans set up on the courthouse lawn, complemented by activities scattered through various communities. Attendees can enjoy food vendors providing seasonal fare, artisans demonstrating traditional crafts, and numerous opportunities for walking tours along scenic covered bridges surrounded by beautiful fall colors.

History and Founding:

• Established in 1957, the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival was created to celebrate and preserve the county’s remarkable collection of covered bridges, one of the largest in the U.S.
• The festival has grown into Indiana’s largest, running annually on the second Friday of October for 10 days.

Typical Schedule Highlights (locations vary by town but include):

• Daily artisan markets and craft demonstrations
• Food tastings, including regional specialties like apple butter in Bloomingdale
• Historical tours of covered bridges and nearby landmarks
• Live music and community events in different towns
• Specific timed events such as soup serving at the Friends Meeting House in Bloomingdale

Nearby Area and Vibe:

• Bloomingdale and other Parke County towns maintain a quaint, historical small-town charm, especially vibrant during the fall foliage season.
• The festival exudes a warm, nostalgic vibe celebrating rural heritage, traditional arts, and the natural beauty of the Indiana countryside in autumn.
• Activities are family-oriented, with a welcoming atmosphere for visitors interested in cultural heritage, crafts, and fall festivities.

In summary, the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival in Bloomingdale is a lively celebration of local history and culture, centered around the county’s historic covered bridges, featuring traditional foods, handmade crafts, and scenic beauty during mid-October.