Hundreds of ladybugs whizzed through the wooden beams of the Smolen-Gulf Bridge Sunday, enjoying the sunshine and warm weather with thousands of people in the final day of the 25th annual Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival.

“This is an amazing bridge,” Bay Village resident Scott Sackett said. “I have never seen anything like this. It is just amazing.”

Smolen-Gulf Bridge chairwoman Rhonda Beitzel said the new bridge drew huge crowds in its first festival, especially on Sunday afternoon.

“Saturday was busy,” Beitzel said, “but today is twice as busy. This was a great afternoon and a great weekend from the new bridge. We had people from New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and even Wyoming come through here.”

Beitzel said 300 motorcyclists traveled through the new bridge each day of the festival and many people walked, biked or rode through the bridge more than once.

“People couldn’t get enough of it,” she said. “This bridge puts Ashtabula County on the map in a good way. This is a very positive step for our county.”

The Revs. Lois Burke of Monroe United Methodist Church and Johnny Swann of Plymouth United Methodist Church led a church service at the bridge Sunday morning and refreshments, souvenirs, crafts and local maple syrup were on sale all weekend.

Across the county at the Harpersfield Covered Bridge, the Schutt family of Concord Township relaxed in the October sunshine.

“We come to the Covered Bridge Festival every year,” mom Kathy Schutt said. “It is a family tradition. We stop and get pumpkins at Robinson’s Apple Barn and we come to the festival.”

The family brings their fishing poles, books and a blanket so they can relax and eat kettle corn. Though it is rarely warm enough to truly enjoy the outdoors.

“You can’t beat this 70-degree weather,” Cheryl Schutt said.

Dad Russell and brother Matthew, 13, were busy fishing off the bridge.

Emily Schutt, 9, and brother Adam, 11, were impressed with the huge pumpkins on display at the festival headquarters in Jefferson.

“It was a huge, I mean huge, pumpkin,” Adam said. “It was amazing that someone grew that pumpkin in their yard.”

Emily said her family enjoys several festivals every year, many in Ashtabula County.