Nothing kicks off the start of fall season like the EQT Washington and Greene Counties’ Covered Bridge Festival. Always held on the third weekend of September, the festival will take place this year September 19-20. Hours are 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day, and parking and admission are free.
If you have never attended the festival, you are certainly missing out on food, handcrafted items, entertainment, history, and more. It has been a long-running event since 1971, and there’s a reason visitors keep showing up year after year.
There are 30 covered bridges in all (23 in Washington and 7 in Greene), and 9 (7 in Washington and 2 in Greene) of those will be stops for the festival. You can take a driving tour of all of them at any time or block off time on either day of festival weekend to visit a few.
The 9 bridges featured during festival weekend are:
1. Brownlee Bridge is in Claysville at McGuffey Community Park. It was relocated to its current site in 2008 and started as a festival stop. It was noteworthy originally for its triangular-shaped windows, which I think would have been quite the talk back in its early days. In addition to vendors, there will be chainsaw carving and classic cars.
2. The Carmichaels Bridge is a huge fan-favorite in Greene County. It was restored in 1998 and crosses Muddy Creek. A fun fact is this bridge has been a stop since the festival’s inception in 1971. In addition to crafts and food, they will have local entertainment and wagon rides. Carmichaels Bridge is also a huge site for photography with many graduates or local couples using the bridge as the perfect backdrop for senior pictures or engagement and wedding photos.
3. Ebenezer Bridge is in Mingo Creek County Park and is best known for its enormous selection of vendors and food. It is a must-see if you are looking for handmade goods or just feeling hangry. This bridge was relocated to Mingo Park in 1977 and resembles an old train caboose. It was altered to tie in with the landscape of the area. If you’re looking for fall décor and BBQ, make this a stop.
4. Henry Bridge is also in Mingo Creek County Park. It is approximately 1.5 miles from Ebenezer Bridge, so this is a “twofer” you could say. Henry Bridge has been a part of the festival since 1984. You’ll find plenty of vendors here as well and note that the actual bridge site is not where the bridge is currently, but up the hill a bit.
5. Hughes Bridge is in Amwell Township. This bridge is believed to have replaced an earlier bridge due to a flood in 1888. If you have an interest in antique cars, make this a stop on your tour during festival weekend. Lots of free activities for the kiddos happen here too.
6. McClurg Bridge is in Hanover Township Park. At its original location, it was referred to as Devil’s Den Bridge due to a hidden cave behind a waterfall. The bridge is the shortest in Washington County at 24 feet, and you will find plenty to see and eat here. There may even be a vegetable contest.
7. Pine Bank Bridge is located at Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village. It was relocated in 1962 to avoid demolition in Jollytown (Gilmore Township). It is one of the only surviving bridges to use the king post truss system, which is a simple support system using minimal materials. It was used in shorter bridges. You won’t find vendors and food like the other stops, but there is much to see at the Historical Village.
8. White Bridge is in the Garards Fort area and is the longest in Greene County at 77 feet. This is another fan-favorite for Greene County. Park, and golf carts will take you to the entrance if you like. Vendors, food, and civil war reenactments make this a popular stop. A survey completed in 1990 said the bridge was built in 1900. However, a resident born in 1911 said this bridge didn’t begin construction until 1919. I think I will take that resident’s statement as fact. Watching the construction as an 8-year-old would certainly leave a lasting impression.
9. Wyit Sprowls Bridge is in East Finley Township Park. It was relocated in 2002 due to subsidence. The bridge is named after the property owner where the bridge was originally built. It is located right in front of Jordan (one-room) Schoolhouse, which visitors can tour as well. You can learn what old-time grain thrashing is (separating the kernels from the plant I think) and enjoy apple cider from the press.
The Autumnal Equinox for 2026 arrives on Tuesday, September 22, at 8:04 PM, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Festival weekend is the kick-off to everything fall for our area. Whether it’s to start Christmas shopping, find fall décor, support local artisans, enjoy the beautiful weather (this festival happens rain or shine by the way), listen to local entertainment, learn a little history, or eat until you can’t breathe, the EQT Washington Greene Counties Covered Bridge Festival will certainly deliver. Get out there, folks!
LINK FOR MORE INFO:
Washington & Greene Counties’ Covered Bridge Festival | Pennsylvania Fall Festival
