Take journey back to yesteryear

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MARYSVILLE – One of Union County’s historic covered bridges sets the stage for a fun, family-friendly adventure in Union County’s beautiful countryside – the 10th annual Covered Bridge Bluegrass Festival, Sept. 23-24.

All the action will take place on and around the Pottersburg Bridge, at 17141 Inskeep-Cratty Road, North Lewisburg. The bridge, originally designed and built in 1868, will serve as:

The concert venue for several of the 11 bluegrass bands and musicians scheduled to perform at the festival, such as progressive bluegrass group Mad River Railroad and the Sugar Creek Band, a group of brothers and sisters who bring youthful energy to traditional bluegrass. (The complete schedule of bands and other festival events is available at coveredbridgefestival.com.)

The setting for a breakfast, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, and picnic dinner, 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 23

The centerpiece of an array of other activities for the whole family – kids’ games, horse-drawn wagon rides, farm animals, a 5K run and 2-mile walk, food trucks, art classes, an antique and vintage market, bus tours of the county’s historic bridges and specialty farms, a community church service, and an 1860s-style baseball game featuring the Ohio Village Muffins of Ohio History Connection, 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24.

Offered by the Union County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the festival is supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council.

“The Covered Bridge Bluegrass Festival showcases our historical covered bridges, designed and built in the 1860s and 1870s by Reuben L. Partridge,” said Mardy Hanlon-Stolte, chairperson of the festival. “The Pottersburg Bridge offers a one-of-a-kind setting for a special weekend of wholesome activities for the entire family, from delicious comfort food and foot-tapping music, to charming arts and crafts, and fun kids’ activities.”

Festival admission is $5, and free for children 12 and under. Festival hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 23 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 24.

Concert and Picnic on the Bridge

Reservations are recommended for the Picnic on the Bridge, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, which will feature a performance by the Sugar Creek Band. Tickets for the dinner may be purchased for $25 on the festival website, coveredbridgefestival.com or by calling 937-642-6279 or emailing [email protected]. The dinner includes broasted chicken, two sides, rolls, lemonade/iced tea and pie. Each dinner ticket includes a chance to win a signed 12-by-16-inch print of a watercolor painting of the Pottersburg Bridge by Ohio folk artist Billy Jacobs.

Tickets for the concert alone, without dinner, will be available for $15.

Tickets are already sold out for an elegant four-course dinner on the bridge, scheduled for Friday, Sept. 22.

Guest artist Billy Jacobs

Special festival guest folk artist Billy Jacobs will sign his books and prints at 2 p.m. Sept. 23 and will perform bluegrass music in the festival pavilion, 3-4 p.m. Sept. 24. Jacobs, of Navarre, Ohio, began his career as a woodcrafter and designer and now focuses on watercolor painting.

Farm Fit 5K Run/2-Mile Walk

The Union County Farm Bureau is sponsoring the run and walk to support the Ohio 4-H program. The $30 registration fee includes admission to the festival and a hot post-race breakfast. Register at runsignup.com/Race/OH/NorthLewisburg/FarmFit5k. Start time is 8 a.m. at the Pottersburg Bridge.

Covered Bridge Bluegrass Festival sponsors include Bluebird Retirement Community, presenting sponsor; Bob Chapman Ford, Dinner on the Bridge sponsor; Primrose Schools, Picnic on the Bridge, bluegrass music and Kids Zone sponsor; Union Rural Electric, bus tour sponsor; and partner sponsors, North Central Ohio Solid Waste District, Honda Marysville, Honda Marysville Motorsports and Union County Foundation.

For more details, visit the festival website, coveredbridgefestival.com, or call the Union County CVB, 937-642-6279.

The Sugar Creek Band performs on the Pottersburg Bridge at a previous Covered Bridge Bluegrass Festival. The bridge is the centerpiece of the festival, to be held this year Sept. 23-24.
https://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2017/09/web1_Pottersburg-Bridge-1.jpgThe Sugar Creek Band performs on the Pottersburg Bridge at a previous Covered Bridge Bluegrass Festival. The bridge is the centerpiece of the festival, to be held this year Sept. 23-24. Submitted photo
Covered Bridge Bluegrass Festival is Sept. 23-24 in Union County

Submitted story

Submitted on behalf of the Union County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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