Next weekend, take some time away from studying (or partying) to enjoy the beauty and history of Indiana County. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 27, spend the day at Blue Spruce Park for the first Indiana County Covered Bridge Festival.
Not only does the festival serve as a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, but it fits a college student's budget. There is no admission fee, and parking is free.
There are four covered bridges in Indiana County: Harmon, Kintersburg, Thomas and Trusal. Each of these bridges was built between the late 1800s and early 1900s, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
According to Ed Patterson, the Director of Indiana Parks & Trails, the idea of a covered bridge festival was proposed by the Indiana County Covered Bridge Committee, which is made of 22 members of the community who "have an interest in preserving the county's covered bridges."
Patterson says that the festival is happening thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Pittsburgh 250 Community Connections program and First Commonwealth Bank, which covered most of the expenses.
Because the cost of putting on the festival is a huge part of the planning stage, it is not known whether this will become an annual event.
This is something that will be decided after the committee discusses the success of this year's festival.
The main attraction of the festival will be the bus tours of the bridges. The bus will leave Blue Spruce Park at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
There are two options for tours. The short tour will cost $2 per person and take about an hour, showing visitors two of the four bridges. The long tour will be $3 per person, take approximately an hour and a half, and will show three of the four bridges.
All children younger than the age of 5 ride for free. If anyone prefers to tour the bridges themselves, a written guide is available at the Pittsburgh and its Countryside Web site, visitpittsburgh.com.
The bus tours are not the only activity happening at the festival. A variety of local bands will be playing from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Picnic tables will provide seating, but guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs. While they enjoy the entertainment, guests can purchase lunch from the festival food booths.
Visitors can see artisan demonstrations by crafters, painters, wood turners, potters, sculptors and weavers. For anyone in the mood to shop, covered bridge merchandise will be for sale.
At the bridges, there will be wooden quilt displays and a quilt show at the festival.
The area around Harmon Bridge will even be home to an antique car show. Bring children to see puppet shows at 12:15 and 1:15 p.m., or let them pick out balloons and get their faces painted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Indiana County Covered Bridge Festival truly has something for the entire family, and is a great place for a student to spend a day away from busy campus life.
Blue Spruce Park is conveniently located less then 10 miles from IUP.
For more information on the Indiana County Covered Bridge Festival, visit indianacountyparks.org or visitindianacountypa.org.
For directions to Blue Spruce Park, visit indianacounty parks.org/parks/bs/bsdirmap.htm.
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