Covered Bridge Festival Behind the Scenes | Jennifer Frease

<p>Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce podcast. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Jennifer Frease of the Covered Bridge Festival Committee to preview Madison County&#39;s signature October weekend on the Winterset courthouse square. Jennifer shares how a childhood cider booth turned into years of volunteering and vendor planning, what it takes to welcome more than 17,000 guests downtown, and why the festival still depends on partners, sponsors, and over 200 volunteers.In this episode, we cover:- What the Covered Bridge Festival feels like for first time visitors- Second full weekend in October hours, Saturday late night, and the Sunday parade- Why the festival sits inside Winterset Square with local retailers- More than 140 food and artisan vendors plus diverse entertainment- Saturday 5 to 7 p.m. headliner hours and a walk in balloon from Indianola Balloon Classic- Kids Zone, corn box, warehouse activities, and family friendly stops- Rotary covered bridge bus tours and Covered Bridge Preservation Association booth- Planning that starts the Sunday night after festival and ramps up in January- Friday vendor load in logistics and power generators for food trucks- Security, city and county partners, shuttles, and Historical Complex events- Economic ripple across Winterset and nearby Madison County towns- 2026 festival royalty Bill and Mary Seibert of St. Charles- Volunteers, sponsors, and how to plug in for next yearWhether you are a local who never misses festival weekend or a visitor planning your first trip, this conversation is a warm look at the people who keep Madison County&#39;s covered bridge tradition going.Learn more and connect:- Madison County Covered Bridge Festival: https://www.exploremadisoncounty.com/covered_bridge_festival/- Madison County Chamber: https://madisoncounty.comIf you enjoyed this episode, like,</p>