I always thought the biggest festival in Indiana was the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, but it turns out it's a different kind of fall festival.

Autumn in the Hoosier State

Fall in Indiana is the best time of year, and I don't care if that's a "basic" take.  During fall, we've got pumpkin patches, corn mazes, colorful foliage, and festivals in the Hoosier State, and I think that's a cause for celebration.   Of course, here in Evansville, fall also means the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, which takes place annually during the first full week of October.  It's a massive fundraiser for area non-profits and draws thousands of people to Franklin Street.

I always thought the Fall Festival was the biggest in the state, but it turns out the Fall Festival, while a massive festival in its own right, is not the biggest.  The biggest festival in the state draws in about 2 million people annually.

More Than 2 million People Annually

If you had told me that the Fall Festival brought in about 2 million people annually, I probably would have believed you.  I mean, have you ever tried navigating Franklin Street on Saturday night of the Fall Festival?  It certainly feels like 2 million people.  But as big as the Fall Festival is, it's quite a bit smaller (but still massive, drawing in roughly 200,000 people annually) than the largest festival in the state, and that's the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival.

The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival

Indiana is the Covered Bridge Capital of the World, so it makes sense our state would also be home to a massive festival celebrating covered bridges. The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival.

This festival is so big that it spans across several communities over 10 days. There's everything from delicious food to vendors selling unique items, gorgeous fall foliage, and of course, the historic covered bridges.

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When is the 2025 Covered Bridge Festival

This year, the annual Covered Bridge Festival will take place October 10th to 19th.  The best part is, the Covered Bridge Festival is after the Fall Festival, so you have time to enjoy BOTH!   You can learn more about the Covered Bridge Festival, and start planning your visit here.