Shopping
Over 150 vendors and demonstrators are set to be at this year’s festival. Vendor booths will be set up on both sides of the streets around the square and the adjacent streets. I recommend making three trips around the square – one for the inside booths, one for the outside booths, and one on the sidewalks to visit our own downtown merchants.
Admission to the festival grounds (food, shopping, stages, etc.) is $3 (or 2 for $5) at the gates; children 12 & under are free.
On-Stage Entertainment
The Covered Bridge Festival has a long tradition of serving up wonderful entertainment, and this year is no exception. Two stages will be pumping out music and other enjoyable acts for two full days. The schedule for both stages is below. I’ve added some comments and descriptions (in italics) if I know something of the act!
Penrod Stage
Located SE of the square on E Court Ave. Named in memory of Mel Penrod who served as emcee for the festival stage for many years.
Saturday, October 8th:
9:30-10:30 Tutor 3 – Sue Hansen, Gaylene Blankers and Katy Schmitt give a wonderful performance with their tight 3-part vocal harmonies. Their program often features musical ‘oldies’ like the Andrews Sisters.
10:30-10:45 History On The Hill
11:00-12:00 Mike and Tesa Heldenbrand
12:30-1:30 Winterset Library Pickers – One Friday each month, a group of acoustic musicians meet at the library for a ‘jam’ session. I joined them for the first time last month and had a blast. You’ll enjoy hearing a variety of musical styles from these veteran musicians.
2:00-2:30 Costume Contest
2:30-3:00 Deborah’s School of Dance
3:00-3:15 History On The Hill
3:30-4:30 Madison County Music Co. – Students studying at Madison County Music Co. will provide a mini-recital including performances on piano, guitar, violin, cello and voice, and musical styles ranging from Bach to CCR.
Sunday, October 9th
9:30-10:15 Eliana Franzenburg – Eliana is a talented young vocalist and guitarist.
10:30-11:00 SWCC Dance Team
11:30-12:30 Spotlight Dance Studio
12:30-1:00 Megan Barrett – Music for KIDS! – ‘Miss Megan’, along with her friend Bella and their ukuleles, will give a mini-concert geared especially for our young festival visitors.
1:00-2:00 WHS Choir – The Winterset HS Choir has a great program this year including some neat musical theater choruses. Support these young musicians before you scope out your spot for the parade.
Benge Family Stage
Located NW of the square on N 1st Ave.
Saturday, October 8th
9:15-9:30 – National Anthem at Stage W/ Brady Pugh
9:30-10:00 – Royalty Introduction and Welcome
10:30-11:30 – Matt Baird (Acoustic)
12:00-1:00 – Benge Family – The Benge family is a CBF staple. This talented family amazes audiences each year with their first-rate bluegrass and country music.
1:30-2:30 – The James Biehn Band – I don’t know James but I’ve learned that he describes his styles as Blues/Rock/Americana…and he’s got some serious stats as a guitarist!
3:30-5:00 – The Retro Gold Band featuring Nikki Hernandez – The Retro Gold Band webpage says this, “RETRO GOLD IS A POP/ROCK COVER BAND BASED OUT OF DES MOINES, IA. WITH A WEALTH OF INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE, RETRO GOLD’S EXCITING REPERTOIRE PACKS THE DANCE FLOOR WITH HITS FROM AKON, HARRY STYLES, COLDPLAY, BRUNO MARS, SAM HUNT, BLACK EYED PEAS, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, AND MORE!“
Sunday, October 9th
9:30-10:30 – Abe Miller Band – Abe Miller is a WHS graduate. He was a fantastic musician then, I can’t wait to hear what he’s up to now!
11:00-12:30 – The Mimzees – The Mimzees are a song cycle band in the chamber music-folk idiom dedicated to bringing poems to life through music.
1:00-2:00 – Chris Powell
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Covered Bridge Tours
The reason for the whole festival? Our famous covered bridges, of course!
The Winterset Rotary Club hosts bus tours of the covered bridges on Saturday from 10am to 3pm and Sunday from 10am to Noon. The price is $15 per person, and the tour is approximately two hours long. With a knowledgeable step-on guide full of covered bridge history and lore, you’ll visit Roseman, Hogback, and Cutler-Donahoe bridges, in addition to the North River Schoolhouse.
Tickets can be purchased at the Rotary booth on the festival grounds, south of the square on 1st Avenue. Tours depart from 1st Avenue and Washington Street, near the George Stout public art project. It’s a great way to see the bridges without navigating through festival traffic and gravel roads. And even if you’ve seen the bridges before, I bet you’ll have fun visiting them again alongside non-locals who are seeing them for the first time!
Passport to the Past
When you’re ready to get off the square for a little bit, head to the Madison County Historical Complex to visit the 150th Anniversary Red Delicious Apple exhibit, take a horse and wagon ride, watch the blacksmith demonstration, buy some penny candy at the Field Mercantile and visit the 25-acre grounds and it’s 12 structures.
On Saturday at 4:00 and Sunday at Noon, you can see the Civil War reenactment skirmish and on Saturday night at 6:45 enjoy s’mores followed by the nighttime cannon firing. All of these activities are free and there is a free shuttle to the museum grounds from the courthouse square.
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Just for Kids
A ‘Kid Zone’ full of activities will be located on E Court Ave, between John Wayne Drive & 2nd St. Young festival visitors can enjoy Winterset Disc Golf, Blank Park Zoo, Face Painting, Corn Hole/Bags, Mystic Pine Acres Creations & Petting Zoo, Des Moines Inflatables & Mechanical Bull, and George Washington Carver Activities.
If you’re planning to be at the festival on Sunday, head to the Penrod Stage at 12:30 to see Miss Megan and Bella from Madison County Music Co. and their concert just for kids!
Parade
I’ve only met two people in my life who don’t enjoy parades. 🙂 For the rest of us, the Covered Bridge Festival and antique car parade is a highlight of the weekend! This year’s parade will be one hour later than in years past, stepping off at 3:00pm before it travels north on 8th Avenue, east on Court Ave, jogs down to Washington for a few blocks and continues on Court Ave to E 10th St.
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Other Activities you Won’t Want to Miss!
Winterset Firefighters Associate Pancake Breakfast
Saturday AND Sunday • 6:00 – 11:00
Winterset Fire Station, corner of Court Ave and 2nd St
$8, free for children 3 and under
Winterset Rotary Covered Bridge 5K Run/Walk
Saturday • October 8 • 9:00am
Starts & Ends at Winterset City Park
The Winterset Rotary Club’s Covered Bridge 5K Run/Walk is a tradition each year during the Covered Bridge Festival. Age divisions for run/walk are: 14 & under; 15-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+ and you can enter as an individual or as a family team of two. Medals awarded to 1st, 2nd & 3rd in each age group.
Horseshoe Tournament
Saturday • 10:00am (8:30 – 9:30 registration)
Madison County Fairgrounds
$10 entry fee, sanctioned and unsanctioned members welcome
Contact Kris Jordan, (515) 669-3085
John Wayne Birthplace & Museum Tours
Open during Entire Festival
205 S. John Wayne Drive
$20/adults, $19/seniors, $17/veterans, $10/children 8-12 years, Free/children 7 years and under
“Fiber Art Now’s 2022 Excellence in Quilts” Exhibit
Open During Entire Festival
Iowa Quilt Museum
68 E Court Court Ave
$8/adults, $7/seniors/active military/veterans, $5/students w/ID & children (3-12 yrs), Free/IQM members
Carrie Chapman Catt: Warrior For Women
Saturday • 11:00 & 2:00, Sunday • 11:00
The Iowa Theater, 121 N John Wayne Drive
The compelling story of Iowa suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, who devoted most of her life to the expansion of women’s rights nationwide and around the world, and is recognized as one of the key leaders of the American women’s suffrage movement. Not Rated, 1 hour
The Bridges of Madison County
Saturday AND Sunday • 12:15 – 1:45
The Iowa Theater
Swing by the Iowa Theater during the Covered Bridge Festival to take a photo under their historic marquee, enjoy a self-guided tour of their beautiful lobby and theater, and sit down to enjoy some of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, which will be playing on screen.
Student Art Exhibit
Open During Entire Festival
Winterset Art Center, 224 S. John Wayne Drive
Free Admission
Spelling Bees
Saturday at 10:00 Junior (4-6 grade), 1:30 Senior (7-8 grade)
First United Methodist Church, 309 E Jefferson
No Admission Charge, Hosted by Winterset PEO Chapter AG
Car Show
Sunday • 8:00 – 3:00
In the field between 1st and 2nd Ave, south of Washington St.
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Happening Friday
Concert Series with Megan Barrett
Friday • October 7 • 2:00pm
Winterset Public Library
Music is good for the brain, the body, and the soul! Head to the library on the first Friday of each month at 2:00pm for a mini-concert with Megan Barrett and friends (yes, that’s me). Each month’s program will feature a variety of tunes guaranteed to fill you with warm nostalgia, get your toe tapping, and have you humming (or singing along). This program is geared especially for adults and pulls music mostly from the 50s, 60s and 70s. The theme for October is Spooky Songs!
First Friday Jam Session
Friday • October 7 • 3:00pm
Winterset Public Library
If you play an acoustic instrument, then after the 2:00 ‘concert,’ it will be your turn to jam!
Next Week
Marvelous Marshmallow Workshop
Thursday • 10/13 • 3:30 – 5:00pm
Madison County Extension
Youth in Kindergarten through 3rd grade are invited to join Madison County Extension for a fun and yummy after-school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) workshop! Extension staff will walk youth from Winterset Elementary School to the Extension Office after school. Registration fee is $10.00 and space is limited so get signed up now!
Iowa City Ghost Hunters
Saturday • October 15 • 11:00am
Winterset Public Library
The Iowa City Ghost Hunters will visit the Winterset Public Library on Saturday, October 15th, for a discussion of their history and past paranormal investigations—just in time to have you prepared for All Hallow’s Eve!
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Planning Ahead
Lil’ Husky Basketball
Saturdays • November 5-December 17
Registration Deadline October 22
Winterset Parks & Recreation Dept
WPRD has just opened registration for their Lil’ Husky Basketball Program. This program is for children going into Kindergarten next year, and current Kindergarteners. Links to register:
Pre-K: https://tinyurl.com/4m5mv3tn
Kindergarten: https://tinyurl.com/3rn86aye
Youth Basketball League
Saturdays • Beginning January 7
Registration Deadline November 13
Winterset Parks & Recreation Dept.
The Winterset Parks & Recreation Youth Basketball League offers various divisions for boys and girls in grades 1-6. Games will be played on Saturdays beginning January 7th. Participants in grades 3-6 will be playing against teams from Adel, Perry, and Van Meter, so occasional travel to these towns is to be expected. Teams will be selected through a draft following a skills clinic with all participants on November 20th led by Husky coaches and players. The registration fee is $30 with the deadline being November 13th.
1st & 2nd Grade Boys: https://tinyurl.com/3bnm2zan
1st & 2nd Grade Girls: https://tinyurl.com/4serk5dt
3rd & 4th Grade Boys: https://tinyurl.com/mr9w63ap
3rd & 4th Grade Girls: https://tinyurl.com/3fpjnnyk
5th & 6th Grade Boys: https://tinyurl.com/yjvyzxtn
5th & 6th Grade Girls: https://tinyurl.com/6xm9uzcj
Halloween Hikes & Day of the Dead Festival
Saturday • October 29 • 5:00 – 8:00pm
Pammel Park Lodge
USB ISU Tailgate
Saturday • November 5
You can also check out the community calendar page to see how events align with your own calendar!
It’s a GREAT day to be a Winterset Citizen—
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