ELYSBURG - Those crafty at heart will converge on Knoebels Amusement Resort this weekend for the 30th annual Covered Bridge Festival, coordinated by the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau.
The festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, features craft stands and vendors throughout the park and pavilion areas. Many of Knoebels' food stands and rides will also be open.
The festival typically attracts about 70,000 people over the three days, but David "Otto" Kurecian, bureau executive director, expects even more.
"After all of the rain over the past month, we have one of the nicest weekends coming our way," he said. "People have been busy either helping flood victims or cleaning up their own messes. Hopefully, they will take a much-needed break here."
Visitors are asked to carpool if possible, and to check the bureau's or Knoebels' website for road condition updates. Route 487 between Knoebels and Southern Columbia High School has been closed since the flooding, but Kurecian was hopeful it would reopen by today.
Unfortunately, tours of the area's covered bridges have been canceled this year because of road conditions.
"Some of the smaller roads can't handle a passenger coach filled with people right now," Kurecian said.
The festival features live entertainment Friday from singer Jay Smar from noon to 2 p.m. and singer Mike Lewis from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday's entertainment features the bluegrass sounds of Stained Grass Window from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and the 1950s and '60s music of Legends from 2:30 to 5:15 p.m.
On Saturday, starting at 1 p.m., a live craft auction will take place, featuring more than 300 items donated by vendors.
Other attractions include the Knoebels 5K race, starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and an antique and classic car show at 10 a.m. Sunday.
On the Net: www.itourcolumbiamontour.com