Take a ride to the Covered Bridge Festival

ONEONTA – With three covered bridges still in existence, Blount County carries the title of Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama, and as a tribute to its roots, a one-day festival is held every year in downtown Oneonta.

Set for Oct. 14, the Covered Bridge Festival offers plenty of family fun including a quilt show, arts and crafts, a rib cook-off, car show, live music, great food, self-guided covered bridge tours and more.

The highlight of the Covered Bridge Festival, now in its 39^th year, is the arts and crafts show in downtown Oneonta’s entertainment district. Throughout the day, festivalgoers can peruse the booths of vendors selling an assortment of homemade items, handmade jewelry, artwork, wood creations and more.

Festival goers can also check out an assortment of makes and models of cars, trucks, farm tractors, first responder vehicles and motorcycles at the Cruise-In from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

No visit to Blount County would be complete without a stop at one or all of the covered bridges.

• Constructed in 1934, Horton Mill is the tallest historic covered bridge in the United States standing 70 feet above the water. The 220-foot-long bridge crosses the Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River about 5 miles north of Oneonta off Highway 75.
• Easley Covered Bridge was constructed in 1927 and is the smallest of Blount’s bridges. At just 95 feet long it crosses the Dub Branch, Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River. It is located off U.S. 231 in Rosa.
• Constructed in 1933, Swann Covered Bridge is the longest of Blount’s bridges. Located in Cleveland, it spans 324 feet across the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River.  

The third annual Rib Rally is back with proceeds going to the Oscar Bothwell Memorial Scholarship Fund. For more information on the Rib Rally or to register a team, call 205-353-8404 or email [email protected].

Before heading to the festival Saturday morning, stop by the pancake breakfast at Lester Memorial Methodist Church, benefiting the Children’s Center, from 7 to 10 a.m. Tickets are $5 per person.

Sponsored by the Blount County Quilters Guild, a quilt show is scheduled for Oct. 13-14 at the Quilters Guild Cottage at Palisades Park, 1225 Palisades Parkway in Oneonta from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5. For more information, visit https://blountcountyquilters.com/.

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information on the Covered Bridge Festival, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CoveredBridgeFest or call the Chamber office at 205-274-2153.