Ep. 20 - JoAnne Marshall & Dana Bucci

Fall is almost here, and in Washington and Greene counties, that means it's time for the EQT Washington & Greene Counties' Covered Bridge Festival! On Episode 20 of the WashCo Insider, host Ryanne Dougherty sits down with JoAnne Marshall, Director of the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency, and Dana Bucci, Director of Finance and Tourism Administration for the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency, for an inside look at one of southwestern Pennsylvania's most beloved fall traditions. Celebrating its 55th year, the festival takes place across nine historic covered bridge sites and features more than 300 vendors, arts and crafts, food, live entertainment, historical demonstrations and more. JoAnne and Dana share the history behind the festival, what makes each site unique, what it takes to organize an event of this size and why generations of visitors continue to make the Covered Bridge Festival part of their fall traditions.

Fall Tradition Returns: Inside the 55th EQT Washington & Greene Counties' Covered Bridge Festival

Few events capture the arrival of fall in southwestern Pennsylvania quite like the EQT Washington & Greene Counties' Covered Bridge Festival.

For 55 years, the festival has celebrated the history, heritage and communities surrounding the region's historic covered bridges. On Episode 20 of the WashCo Insider, host Ryanne Dougherty is joined by JoAnne Marshall, Director of the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency, and Dana Bucci, Director of Finance and Tourism Administration for the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency, to take listeners behind the scenes of this beloved fall tradition.

Nine Covered Bridge Festival Sites

The EQT Washington & Greene Counties' Covered Bridge Festival takes place across nine separate festival locations — seven in Washington County and two in Greene County.

Together, those sites welcome more than 300 vendors and thousands of visitors for a weekend filled with arts and crafts, food, entertainment, historical demonstrations and activities.

But one of the things that makes the Covered Bridge Festival so unique is that no two sites offer exactly the same experience.

In Washington County, festival locations include the Brownlee Bridge at McGuffey Community Park, Hughes Bridge in Amwell Township, Wyit Sprowls Bridge at East Finley Township Park, Ebenezer and Henry bridges at Mingo Creek County Park, McClurg Bridge in Hanover Township and Pine Bank Bridge at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village.

Across the county line in Greene County, visitors can experience festival sites at the Carmichaels Covered Bridge and White Covered Bridge.

More Than 50 Years of History

The Covered Bridge Festival began as a way to draw attention to the remarkable collection of historic covered bridges found throughout this corner of Pennsylvania.

Washington County alone is home to 23 covered bridges, while Greene County has seven. Many date to the late 1800s and early 1900s, offering visitors a tangible connection to the history of rural southwestern Pennsylvania.

Over the decades, what began at just a handful of locations has grown into one of the region's premier fall events.

And its popularity reaches well beyond southwestern Pennsylvania. JoAnne shares the story of a couple from England who have planned trips to the United States around Covered Bridge Festival weekend — returning every few years to visit their favorite bridge and explore the different festival sites.

Every Bridge Offers Something Different

Part of the fun of the Covered Bridge Festival is choosing which sites to explore.

At Ebenezer and Henry bridges in beautiful Mingo Creek County Park, arts and crafts are a major attraction. Ebenezer alone is preparing to welcome a record 179 arts and crafts vendors this year.

At Carmichaels, music takes center stage, including the popular American Legion band. The White Covered Bridge Festival incorporates history through Civil War reenactments and educational demonstrations that help visitors better understand life during the era.

Pine Bank Bridge offers an entirely different experience. Located at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, the bridge is the only unpainted covered bridge in Washington County. During Covered Bridge Festival weekend, Meadowcroft also offers complimentary admission to its historic villages.

Whether you're interested in handmade crafts, local food, live music, history or simply spending a beautiful fall weekend outdoors, there's something different to discover at each stop.

Take the Covered Bridge Driving Tour

Festival weekend isn't the only opportunity to experience the covered bridges of Washington and Greene counties.

Visitors can explore the region throughout the year using the Covered Bridge Driving Tour. The tour breaks the bridges into geographic routes, making it easier to travel through the countryside from one historic bridge to another.

While festival weekend traffic can make it difficult to complete the entire driving tour, fall is an especially beautiful time to return. Fill up the gas tank, pack a picnic and spend a day discovering historic bridges, small communities and the countryside of southwestern Pennsylvania.

A Festival Powered by Community

Behind each of the nine festival locations is a different municipality, nonprofit organization or group of volunteers working to make the weekend possible.

At Mingo Creek County Park, preparations begin months in advance and include vendor coordination, traffic control, first aid, equipment rentals, parking, signage by the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency with extensive support from the Washington County Department of Parks and Recreation.

That community involvement is part of what has allowed the Covered Bridge Festival to endure for more than half a century.

It's also part of what makes the event special.

As JoAnne puts it during the episode, visiting the festival “feels like coming back home.”

Kick Off Fall in Washington & Greene Counties

The 55th EQT Washington & Greene Counties' Covered Bridge Festival takes place September 19–20 at nine locations throughout Washington and Greene counties.

Admission to the festival is complimentary.

Whether you've attended every year for decades or you're planning your first Covered Bridge Festival weekend, come experience the history, craftsmanship, food, entertainment and communities that have made this one of southwestern Pennsylvania's signature fall traditions.

Listen to Episode 20 of the WashCo Insider to hear more from JoAnne Marshall and Dana Bucci and get an inside look at the people, history and planning behind the EQT Washington & Greene Counties' Covered Bridge Festival.

Plan your festival weekend at CoveredBridgeFest.net. Need a printable map with each of the Covered Bridge Festival locations to take along with you? You can download a map here.