Schedule of Events
Friday, August 8
Dance, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., downtown, music by Junk Male
Saturday, August 9
Fun Run and Walk, 8 a.m. on the Sugar River Trail
Garden Club display, 8 a.m., Bank of Brodhead
Tractor show, thresheree, 9 a.m., behind Ayres Chevrolet
Pony rides, all weekend long, behind Ayres Chevrolet
Toy tractor pull for children, noon, behind Ayres Chevrolet
Flea market, crafts, food, all day long, behind Ayres Chevrolet
Sidewalk sales, vendors, music, beer garden, all weekend long, downtown
Model A antique car display, downtown
Depot Museum, downtown
Historical tours, 10: a.m. to 3 p.m., starting at the Earthriders Bicycle Shop
EMS rummage sale, 8 a.m., Veterans Park
Jazz festival, noon to 4 p.m., downtown
Antique tractor pull, 1 p.m., behind Ayres Chevrolet
Garden tractor pull, 1 p.m., behind Ayres Chevrolet
Garden model train display, 502 East Fourth Avenue
Jaycee sand volleyball tournament, Jaycee Park
Softball tournament, Legion Park
Sunday, August 10
Old-fashioned church service, 9 to 10 a.m., in Veterans Park
Pony rides, all weekend long, behind Ayres Chevrolet
Classic car show, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., behind Ayres Chevrolet
Tractor show, Thresheree, behind Ayres Chevrolet
Flea market, Crafts, Food, all day long, behind Ayres Chevrolet
Garden model train display, 502 East Fourth Avenue
Parade, noon, where
Antique tractor pull, 1 p.m., starting behind Ayres Chevrolet
Garden tractor pull, 1 p.m., behind Ayres Chevrolet
Softball tournament, Legion Park
Food stands and beer garden
Brodhead's Covered Bridge Days offers something for everyone.
"It's a fun filled weekend. And with all of these events, there is something for every family member - young and old," Chamber of Commerce President Doug Pinnow said.
The event starts Friday night with a street dance downtown with music by Junk Male, one of southern Wisconsin's premiere alternative and pop rock bands. Pinnow said the street dance was moved to Friday night so it wasn't going on during the ball tournament.
Events Saturday include a fun run and walk in the morning, a tractor show and thresheree, downtown sidewalk sales, an EMS rummage sale, a jazz festival, tractor pulls, the Jaycee's sand volleyball tournament, a men's softball tournament with "more than 20 teams" and music provided by a DJ during the evening.
On Sunday, there are more of the same activities but also an old-fashioned church service, a tractor parade at noon and a classic car show with "we're hoping for more than 100 entries," said chamber member Bob Higbee.
Higbee said there will be a DJ, Pam and Dell Walters, at the car show site and there will be door prizes from community businesses for car show exhibitors.
"We started this last year and it worked out great for everyone - business owners and exhibitors," Higbee said.
Brodhead is a small village of about 3,200 residents.
"The community is progressive yet doesn't want to forget its strong ties to its past," said Dan Palan, last year's chamber president and owner of Piggly Wiggly. "Covered Bridge Days is a celebration of Brodhead's present through its past."
The festival gets its name from the National Award Winning Clarence Covered Bridge replica, constructed in 1984 by the members of the Brodhead Jaycees.
The original covered bridge was located just south of Brodhead on Wisconsin 11-81; it spanned across the Sugar River. The bridge survived until 1931 when a 30-ton trailer truck crashed through the floor.
The replica, 112-foot structure is located at the first railroad trestle north of Golf Course Road on the bike trail. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provided wood from old barns and other buildings being demolished elsewhere in the state; the Jaycees raised money for the rest of the materials.