Shaker Woods Festival celebrates its 26th year

Entertainment, from bluegrass to cloggers, is featured throughout the festival.

the vindicator

COLUMBIANA — The Shaker Woods Festival is returning for its 26th year. The family-oriented craft festival is spread out over three weekends: Saturday and next Sunday, Aug. 16-17 and Aug. 23-24, with food, entertainment and fine arts and crafts for sale.

Founded to honor the 18th-century Shaker community, the festival includes more than 200 craftspeople in a wooded setting.

“Imagine being able to take a step back in time, free from the hustle and bustle of everyday living, yet close to home,” said Sue Ferguson, who, along with her husband, Sam, are the promoters of the festival.

In the early 1980s, the Fergusons were concerned that a time might come when the sale of their farm products might not cover the rising cost of producing them. While deciding how to extend the land into a more profitable enterprise, the Fergusons hosted an Apple Butter festival in 1982.

That first fall festival has blossomed into the Shaker Woods Festival. Shortly thereafter, Sue Ferguson researched the Shaker history and incorporated it into all future festivals.

The Shaker community was a group of industrious and devout people whose inventions include the washing machine, spinning wheel and flat broom, as well as clothespins and packaged seeds. Shaker furniture is known for its simple, beautiful lines and fine workmanship.

The Fergusons choose crafters whose work carries on the tradition of exceptionally fine workmanship.

Each juried craftsperson, dressed in Shaker period clothing, offers his/her wares in a cool, manicured, wooded area. The level grounds feature crushed gravel footpaths for easy walking and access from acres of free parking.

Crafters demonstrate their skills without the use of modern conveniences such as electricity. Crafts are as diverse as basket weaving, blacksmithing, broom-making, leather work, paintings, pottery, quilts, custom garden stones, plants, toys, jewelry and woodwork.

The crafts range from small miniatures to rooms of custom-made furniture and hand-carved masterpieces.

An extensive selection of food is available, from soups and sandwiches to complete meals — many of which are cooked over an open fire. Snack foods and delicious desserts are also available.

Entertainment, from bluegrass to cloggers, is featured on all three stages throughout the festival.

New this year will be singer B.E. Taylor, who will perform Aug. 9 and 10 on the Meeting House Stage. Also appearing is Darryl Gatlin, Aug. 23 and 24.

Rob Taggart, a flute crafter and folk wind soloist, will perform as he strolls the grounds each day. Additional performers will include New Wave Cloggers, Silver Eagle Band, Dottie Aikens Reynolds The Tumbleweed Band, Bobby Miller, Blue Shades, American Idol Contestant Sarah Burgess, Marcille Wallis Andrew Dean and The Farm Machine.

Children can take hour-long classes in which they will make Shaker art projects.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Daily general admission tickets ($6.50 for adults) will be sold at the gate. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. No pets or alcoholic beverages are permitted on the grounds. Children’s strollers are not recommended.

Shaker Woods is located on Route 7, one mile north of the intersection of Route 14 in Columbiana.