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Chris Bavender/Eyewitness News
Mansfield, October 15 - More than a million visitors are expected for the annual Covered Bridge Festival.
The 10 day event kicked off Friday and runs through next Sunday. Not only 31 bridges to tour, but plenty of eats and treats along the way.
No one's quite sure why Parke County's covered bridges were built. Whether for refuge from Indians or to shelter travelers. Today, they are simply the focal point for fun each fall.
"There's definitely a lot to see here in Parke County and you can definitely come here and spend several days," said Mansfield Parke owner Mary Beth Goff.
And that's no understatement. The event is so large, and covers eight communities. You can't see it all in just a few hours.
Gary Younger of New Palestine said "It's not humanly possible. It's like going to Disney World, you can't see it all in one trip."
From the shopping, "We like sweatshirts, pretty tops, baskets, pictures," said Debbie Neighbors of Vincennes.
To the food, like the steak tips, "If you eat here I guarantee you'll come back every day this event is open. If you can't find what you want to eat here then it's not available because there is all kinds of food here," said Goff.
The festival draws people back each year, Joe Fruits of Waynetown said, "Just walk around and see all my old friends down here."
New this year to Mansfield is a scenic sky ride with a bird's eye view of the event.
"Wonderful, exciting. Neat place to be," says Fruits.
If you plan to visit, go early but not too early.
"We were here so early some of the vendors weren't even open yet!," said Neighbors.
And remember, if you don't get to it today. There's always, tomorrow.
This is the first year the festival has been without the Bridgeton bridge, it was destroyed by an arsonist last April.
Organizers say construction on a new bridge is set to begin next summer, and be finished in time for next year's festival.
