2025 Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival
October 11th & 12th
The festival will be different than the past 40 years. We are doing everything at the bridges, so there will not be a central festival. Most of the activities that have been at the central festival will be moved to Harpersfield and Smolen Bridges since they have the most parking available. Our food and craft vendors will be there. The Ashtabula Township Park Commission has graciously allowed us to use the lower park down by Riverview Bridge, so we will have crafters lining the walking trail to the bridge along with what always happens at the top parking lot. We will have some strolling entertainment at both of these bridges also. We’re working with Metroparks and the Friends of the Harpersfield Bridge to have plenty of activities and vendors at the newly renovated bridge. There will be kids activities, the coloring mural, speakers about the history of the bridges and the area and souvenir booths at both locations. There will as always be plenty of fun for the whole family! There will be bean soup cooked over a fire at Smolen Bridge.
Visit https://coveredbridgefestival.org or Facebook Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Headquarters and Festival for more info.
Bridge Activities 2025
Benetka Rd. Bridge will be hosted by youth OPPORTUNITIES! They will have popcorn, chili, cornbread, fresh sourdough, homemade tomato sauce, jams and candles. All proceeds benefit the youth in the YO program and will go towards helping them with education and employment barriers. They will also have coffee and water. There will be horse drawn wagon rides through the bridge provided by the Sackett Family (weather permitting).
Caine Rd. Bridge will be hosted the First Congregational United Church of Christ of Conneaut. They will be selling hot dogs, soda and water and selling raffle tickets for paintings done by members of the church.
Creek Rd. Bridge will be hosted by the Krieger family. Their mission is to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis. Attractions include Katie’s cf boutique, Ariel’s cf bakery, Danny K’s lemonade, Kaitlyn’s keychains, the Diaper Ministry, Angels of the Lake, Bounce house, kid's games, Tasha’s cotton candy, raffle baskets and more.
Doyle Rd. Bridge will be hosted by Boy Scout Troop 41. The Jefferson troop will be serving fresh cobbler, hot dogs, and hot and cold drinks all by donation. There will be a photo setup.
Giddings Rd. is open w/ no activities.
Graham Rd Bridge TBD
Harpersfield Bridge will be hosted by the Friends of the Harpersfield bridge. They will have lots of vendors again. There will be a souvenir booth with official festival souvenirs there this year. They hope everyone comes to check out the newly renovated bridge!
Liberty St. Covered Bridge will be hosted by Helping Hands Farm Animal Rescue. They will be raising money to help care for farm animals. Food and drinks that were donated by Gray’s Auto Sales and Giant Eagle of Ashtabula and Geneva will be for sold to raise donations. There will be games and other merchandise with all proceeds going to the rescue. They will have a photo op setup and an animal from the rescue at the bridge to greet guests.
Mechanicsville Rd. Bridge will be hosted by Relay for Life of Ashtabula/ The American Cancer Society. They will have a bake sale, Relay Photo Booth, and info from the American Cancer Society. You can dedicate and decorate Luminaria in honor or in memory of a loved one touched by cancer.
Middle Rd. is open w/ no activities.
Netcher Rd. Bridge is hosted by the Ashtabula County Humane Society. They will have walking tacos, crafts, baked goods, Humane Society jackets and shirts for sale. There will be volunteers to answer questions about the Humane Society. We’re hoping to meet some of the pets who were in our care!
Olin Bridge is hosted by the Ashtabula Dream Center. They will have a baked goods, coffee and water for sale. The Dream Center is a soup kitchen/ food pantry with many other programs to offer. Their mission for the past 23 years has been to help the community restore broken lives, families, and dreams.
Riverdale Rd. Bridge is hosted by Conversation Station. They are pleased to be a part of the Festival! As a “safe place to be for kids” in the Orwell area they hope to have some youth join them for this county/ community event. They will have drinks available for sale and the Covered Bridge Festival information and souvenirs.
Root Rd. Bridge is hosted by the Ashtabula Aktion Club and the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The Aktion Club (a service organization for adults with disabilities) will be tempting you with homemade potato chips and probably other food. They well have club information available.
S. Denmark Bridge will be hosted by the Pierpont Community Action League/ Pierpont Beautification Committee during the festival. They will decorate the bridge for fall and have baked goods, pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, water, pop and coffee and fall crafts for sale.
Smolen Gulf Bridge is hosted by East Plymouth Grange. They will have hot dogs, cabbage rolls, water pop and baked goods. There will be other vendors at the bridge as well as a kid's coloring mural and the Ashtabula County Historical Society will be making bean soup to raise money for the Blakeslee Log Cabin.
State Road Bridge is hosted by the Monroe Twp Fire Dept. They will have a fire to cook your own hot dogs. They will have pop to drink and will also be selling their hoagies and baked goods.
Wiswell Rd. (Windsor Mills) Bridge is hosted by the Windsor Historical Society and the Ashtabula County Board of Health. They will have activities set up by the Old Church on 322, across the street from Wiswell Rd.
For more info, visit https://coveredbridgefestival.org/festival.
