BRODHEAD - It took a while for the weather to cooperate Saturday, but once the rain stopped people came out to Covered Bridge Days to shop, look at antique tractors and sample the food at the various stands.
People selling crafts and foods had to wait until the sun came out to set up their stands, and for a while it appeared the event might not be well attended.
By noon the weather had cleared and the crowds started to come downtown and to the south end of the city to enjoy the festival.
Covered Bridge Days has been an annual event in Brodhead for many years. It's a chance for Brodhead businesses to show off the merchandise and for people to celebrate the city's heritage.
The day got it's name from the Clarence Covered Bridge, which spanned the Sugar River just west of Brodhead.
The highlight of the event for some might have been the antique tractor show. Dozens of antique tractors were parked at the south edge of town for people to examine and admire.
George St. John, who grew up on a farm just north of town, said he remembered many of the old tractors. He grew up on a farm and farming was a way of life, he said.
Dads and moms pointed out the different kinds of tractors to their sons and daughters as they walked around the displays.
There were a couple of children who wanted to climb on the tractors, but their parents told them they could only look.
"You can't play on it," one woman told her son as she took his hand and led him to the next tractor.
Eventually, Brodhead's downtown was packed with people who came out to shop and eat.
For those who didn't want to shop or see historic tractors, a softball tournament on the north end of town provided entertainment, and yet another venue to catch some food.
People selling crafts and foods had to wait until the sun came out to set up their stands, and for a while it appeared the event might not be well attended.
By noon the weather had cleared and the crowds started to come downtown and to the south end of the city to enjoy the festival.
Covered Bridge Days has been an annual event in Brodhead for many years. It's a chance for Brodhead businesses to show off the merchandise and for people to celebrate the city's heritage.
The day got it's name from the Clarence Covered Bridge, which spanned the Sugar River just west of Brodhead.
The highlight of the event for some might have been the antique tractor show. Dozens of antique tractors were parked at the south edge of town for people to examine and admire.
George St. John, who grew up on a farm just north of town, said he remembered many of the old tractors. He grew up on a farm and farming was a way of life, he said.
Dads and moms pointed out the different kinds of tractors to their sons and daughters as they walked around the displays.
There were a couple of children who wanted to climb on the tractors, but their parents told them they could only look.
"You can't play on it," one woman told her son as she took his hand and led him to the next tractor.
Eventually, Brodhead's downtown was packed with people who came out to shop and eat.
For those who didn't want to shop or see historic tractors, a softball tournament on the north end of town provided entertainment, and yet another venue to catch some food.