From Covered Bridges to a Rib Cook-off, Visit the Blount County’s Covered Bridge Festival

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CONTACT: Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association

PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381

From Covered Bridges to a Rib Cook-off, Visit the Blount County’s Covered Bridge Festival

Decatur, Ala. – 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 Saturday, October 8, 2022, 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 is the arts and crafts show located 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.

The second annual Rib Rally, now sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Association, returns to the Covered Bridge Festival and determines who can barbeque the best ribs. Kids ages 10 to 18 years old can participate by competing in the first ever burger cookoff. Grilling teams must present their ribs for judging by 12 p.m. and gates will open at 12:30 p.m. for the public to sample the ribs. Cost is $2 per rib to sample. All proceeds from the event go 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 brothersq205@gmail.com.

Before heading to the festival, stop by the pancake breakfast at Lester Memorial United 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 October 7 and 8 at Palisades Park in Oneonta from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5. For more information, visit www.blountcountyquiltersguild.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.

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 remaining bridges. At just 95 feet long it crosses the Dub Branch, Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River. It is located off of 231 North 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.

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About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)

AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available from AMLA by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting their web site at www.NorthAlabama.org.