EQT Washington & Greene Counties' Covered Bridge Festival Set to Resume in September; Celebrates 50th Anniversary By Joe Smeltzer For the Observer-Reporter 50 ANNUAL After the in-person festival was suspended last year due to COVID-19, the EQT Washington & Greene Counties' Cov- ered Bridge Festival is ready to run again in 2021. As always, the festival is scheduled for the third weekend of Septem- ber, and this year, that weekend falls Sept. 18-19. The last festival took place Sept. 21-22, 2019, in pre-COVID society, and, as this year's will, featured 10 bridges on dis- play, with free admission. In total, 30 covered bridges remain in the two counties, and 197 in Pennsylvania as a whole, according to pacoveredbridges.com. EOT WASHINGTON & GREENE COUNTIES COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency founded the Covered Bridge Festival in the early 1970s to celebrate the historical importance of local bridges. The tourism promotion agency is the primary operation in the event's promotion. It also is responsible for all activities at the Ebenezer Bridge site in Mingo Creek County Park. This site is the festival's most extensive, usually bringing in more than 20,000 guests over the weekend, according to Jeff Kotula, President of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Promotion Agency. Saturday & Sunday SEPTEMBER 18 & 19, 2021 The bridges on display include: · Brownlee Covered Bridge in McGuffey Community Park. Carmichaels Bridge, located in Carmichaels. · Ebenezer Covered Bridge in Mingo Creek County Park. ganizers held out hope that the Covered Henry Covered Bridge, also in Mingo Creek County Park. Bridge Festival - scheduled for Sept. drawing visitors to return year after · Hughes Covered Bridge in Amwell Township. Krepps Covered Bridge in Mt. Pleasant Township. · McClurg Covered Bridge in Hanover Township Park. Pine Bank Covered Bridge in Meadowcroft Rockshelter "We are excited to be able to host the & Historic Village. White Covered Bridge, located in Garards Fort, Greene much our visitors are looking forward to it County's other bridge location. Wyit Sprowls Covered Bridge in East Finley Township Park. ton and Greene counties." anniversary of the festival. For months af- ter COVID-19 took over the world, the or- Last year was supposed to mark the 50th "Wwhile each site serves to commem- orate the historical significance of the bridges, they also showcase a broad variety of activities that keep 19-20, 2020 would be able to proceed. year," he said. As the virus continued to linger, howev- Overall, Kotula looks forward to the er, that hope was put to rest in early July. event, putting some of the best fea- Kotula is glad it's back. tures of both counties on display, an opportunity missed last September. event this year," Kotula said, "knowing how "Showcasing Washington and Greene Counties as great places to as well as the ability to promote Washing- live, work and raise a family with a wonderfully unique event for visitors to enjoy," Kotula said. The festival has evolved over the years and now features 10 locations; eight in Wash- The Covered Bridge Festival is seen unofficially as a kick- off to the fall season as the climate cools off and the leaves begin to brown. The official start of fall is Wednesday, ington County and two more in Greene. Sept. 22, three days after the festival concludes. In addi- tion to the 10 bridges, the weekend will also feature ac- tivities such as arts and crafts, homestyle food, historical tremely popular, and highly regarded exhibits and reenactments. Sponsored content brought to you by "It has become a very distinguished, ex- event by both patrons and participants alike," Kotula said. Over the years, the festival has evolved from a handful of sites to its current 10. The event is acclaimed, having been nominated as one of the Observer-Reporter's Best of the Best in the Fair/Festival and Seasonal Attraction Category. Now in its fifth decade, Kotula feels the festival, like the bridges themselves, have "stood the test of time." WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA EQT Washington & Greene Counties' Covered Bridge Festival Set to Resume in September; Celebrates 50th Anniversary By Joe Smeltzer For the Observer-Reporter 50 ANNUAL After the in-person festival was suspended last year due to COVID-19, the EQT Washington & Greene Counties' Cov- ered Bridge Festival is ready to run again in 2021. As always, the festival is scheduled for the third weekend of Septem- ber, and this year, that weekend falls Sept. 18-19. The last festival took place Sept. 21-22, 2019, in pre-COVID society, and, as this year's will, featured 10 bridges on dis- play, with free admission. In total, 30 covered bridges remain in the two counties, and 197 in Pennsylvania as a whole, according to pacoveredbridges.com. EOT WASHINGTON & GREENE COUNTIES COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency founded the Covered Bridge Festival in the early 1970s to celebrate the historical importance of local bridges. The tourism promotion agency is the primary operation in the event's promotion. It also is responsible for all activities at the Ebenezer Bridge site in Mingo Creek County Park. This site is the festival's most extensive, usually bringing in more than 20,000 guests over the weekend, according to Jeff Kotula, President of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Promotion Agency. Saturday & Sunday SEPTEMBER 18 & 19, 2021 The bridges on display include: · Brownlee Covered Bridge in McGuffey Community Park. Carmichaels Bridge, located in Carmichaels. · Ebenezer Covered Bridge in Mingo Creek County Park. ganizers held out hope that the Covered Henry Covered Bridge, also in Mingo Creek County Park. Bridge Festival - scheduled for Sept. drawing visitors to return year after · Hughes Covered Bridge in Amwell Township. Krepps Covered Bridge in Mt. Pleasant Township. · McClurg Covered Bridge in Hanover Township Park. Pine Bank Covered Bridge in Meadowcroft Rockshelter "We are excited to be able to host the & Historic Village. White Covered Bridge, located in Garards Fort, Greene much our visitors are looking forward to it County's other bridge location. Wyit Sprowls Covered Bridge in East Finley Township Park. ton and Greene counties." anniversary of the festival. For months af- ter COVID-19 took over the world, the or- Last year was supposed to mark the 50th "Wwhile each site serves to commem- orate the historical significance of the bridges, they also showcase a broad variety of activities that keep 19-20, 2020 would be able to proceed. year," he said. As the virus continued to linger, howev- Overall, Kotula looks forward to the er, that hope was put to rest in early July. event, putting some of the best fea- Kotula is glad it's back. tures of both counties on display, an opportunity missed last September. event this year," Kotula said, "knowing how "Showcasing Washington and Greene Counties as great places to as well as the ability to promote Washing- live, work and raise a family with a wonderfully unique event for visitors to enjoy," Kotula said. The festival has evolved over the years and now features 10 locations; eight in Wash- The Covered Bridge Festival is seen unofficially as a kick- off to the fall season as the climate cools off and the leaves begin to brown. The official start of fall is Wednesday, ington County and two more in Greene. Sept. 22, three days after the festival concludes. In addi- tion to the 10 bridges, the weekend will also feature ac- tivities such as arts and crafts, homestyle food, historical tremely popular, and highly regarded exhibits and reenactments. Sponsored content brought to you by "It has become a very distinguished, ex- event by both patrons and participants alike," Kotula said. Over the years, the festival has evolved from a handful of sites to its current 10. The event is acclaimed, having been nominated as one of the Observer-Reporter's Best of the Best in the Fair/Festival and Seasonal Attraction Category. Now in its fifth decade, Kotula feels the festival, like the bridges themselves, have "stood the test of time." WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA