(10/13/01)Long before people starting boo-hooing over the movie “The Bridges of Madison County,” there was an annual festival in that area of Iowa, celebrating the aging and rare collection of covered bridges.
Don Menken is executive director of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce. This 32nd annual Madison County Covered Bridge Festival runs today and tomorrow and is expected to draw 40-thousand people, which will multiply Winterset’s usual population by a factor of ten. He says the bus tours are a popular part of the ceremony.
Among the attractions is a Liar’s Contest, where Menken says anyone with a tall tale they’d like to share may participate and pontificate.
Other events include a horseshoe tournament, a Covered Bridge Run, tours of the John Wayne birthplace, live music, a car show, arts and crafts and guided tours of all the bridges. For more details, call (515) 462-1185.
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