Parke County Covered Bridge Festival – Rosedale

The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival in Rosedale is a 10-day autumn event held October 10-19, 2025, celebrating the area's 31 historic covered bridges and featuring handmade local crafts, homemade foods, and community activities centered mainly in the Rosedale Civic Center along the scenic Red Covered Bridge Route.

The atmosphere of the event is charming and family-friendly with a strong focus on traditional arts and crafts, local cuisine, and fall foliage in a picturesque rural setting. Visitors can enjoy a warm community vibe while exploring artisan booths, homemade food markets, and historic covered bridges in the vicinity.

Surrounding Area and Vibe:

• The festival spans multiple Parke County communities, each with unique specialties, with Rosedale known for its crafts and food market at the Civic Center.
• The area features beautiful fall colors, historic architecture, and peaceful rural scenery alongside the covered bridges.
• Nearby covered bridges like Roseville/Coxville and Thorpe-Ford offer scenic short drives and photo opportunities.

Activities and Offerings at the Rosedale Festival Location:

• Handmade and homemade local crafts, including quilts, woodworks, and fiber art.
• Food booths and large Country Market with homemade treats like ice cream, cookies, breads, and traditional chicken and noodles dinners served sit-down style.
• Quilt sales and artisan demonstrations.
• Free parking available for visitors.
• Proximity to orchards offering fresh apples, ciders, and seasonal farm products.

Extended Festival Activities in Parke County (contextual):

• Other festival locations include Billie Creek Village with historic buildings and crafts, Bloomingdale with specialty dinners and apple butter, Tangier with unique local foods, and the headquarters in Rockville with wood carving, antique shops, and an art gallery.
• Each community provides specialty food, crafts, and cultural events creating a county-wide celebration.

Rough Schedule (Typical for the 10-day festival):

• Daily artisan booths and craft markets open during typical festival business hours (often 9 AM–6 PM).
• Scheduled food events and sit-down meals often available during lunch and dinner times.
• Special activities and demonstrations staggered across locations (check local schedules at the festival website or Civic Center upon arrival).

History and Founding:

• The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival started decades ago to highlight and preserve the county’s large number of historic covered bridges—31 in total—making it Indiana's largest fall festival.
• It began as a community effort to promote tourism, celebrate local heritage, and support local artisans and farmers.
• Held annually starting on the second Friday in October, the event has grown to include multiple communities with specialized local cultural experiences.

In summary, the Rosedale location of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival offers a concentrated experience of handcrafted arts, traditional foods, friendly community engagement, and scenic heritage sites, serving as a key highlight in Indiana’s largest fall festival. Visitors have access to multiple activities showcasing local craftsmanship alongside historic nearby covered bridges and seasonal treats.