No. 1 in Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows - Shaker Woods Festival
The Shaker Woods Festival features more than 200 craftspeople dressed in period clothing as they demonstrate and sell their wares.
It is held on three consecutive weekends in Columbiana, Ohio. The sales crafters and artisans made in 2023 put this show at the top of the Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows category in Sunshine Artist’s 200 Best for 2024.
“We cannot even begin to express our gratitude for being chosen No. 1 in the nation for being the best of the best in contemporary craft shows,” said Lana Wilt. “What an honor for this prestigious award and a heart-filled thank you to our crafters, artisans, and concessioners for making this possible.”
Wilt and her husband, Rob, own the show and the grounds. Since taking over the business from her parents in 2012, they’ve sought this moment, and she said learning they were No. 1 was breathtaking.
She explained the show’s beginning. “Starting with an apple butter festival and a handful of crafters in the fall of 1981 at Ferguson’s Farm Market, thoughts were pondered of creating a craft show behind the market using 60 acres for parking and the process of clearing out 10 acres of wood for crafters to sell their handmade wares,” Wilt said. “In 1982, the dream became reality, and Shaker Woods Festival was born. Through sweat and tears for years to come, Sam and Sue Ferguson pushed through many heartaches, along with success of their achievements, to form one of America’s family annual events. I began working with my parents full time in 1999 to learn the trade and how to continue the success of the show.”
Wilt said that without her parents’ teachings, they would not have accomplished what they have thus far. “With pristine awards from Sunshine Arist, Travelocity, and National Geographic, we found our place on the map,” she said.
The jurying process for this summer festival begins in January and is completed by mid-February. “Crafters and artisans are given the opportunity to interview with us in person or they may send their application to us via mail or email,” Wilt said. “Included with their application, crafters and artisans must submit photos or samples of their work. A committee of eight reviews all work submitted, and final decisions are mailed by letter to inform them of our decisions.”
The Shaker Woods Festival offers 230 permanent structures within 10 acres of beautifully manicured woods. “Our crafters and artisans own these structures. Once they are ready to retire, they can make the decision to sell their structure to another crafter or artisan coming in or take the structure with them,” Wilt said. “If taken down, this becomes an open space for new ones to construct their own.”
The awards offered at the festival include Best Overall Booth, Best Demonstration, Best Costume, and Best Overall Craftsmanship. Each award winner receives $100 and a plaque. In addition, the winners are published on the festival’s social media feeds, as well as on its website.
Wilt offered advice for those interested in becoming a part of this festival. “For crafters and artisans applying, one thing that we found to help us for the jurying process is to either come and see us in person or send in samples,” she said. “We found that pictures sometimes give no justice to one’s work. We also found that personally meeting applicants and listening to how their work is completed gives us so much more than a handwritten application.”
She said they believe in one theory. “Without our crafters and artisans, we could not survive as a show. With that being said, we accommodate our crafters and artisans any way that we possibly can and strive to meet their needs,” Wilt said. “We also listen to their views and opinions on how to better ourselves as promoters and to improve the quality of the show.”
Their goal is to continue improving Shaker Woods Festival in every conceivable way for years to come. She said they try their best to make sure all crafts are handmade, and they want the crafters and artisans to continue dressing in period clothing while demonstrating and selling their work. They never want to fall short of the show’s integrity.
“We appreciate all who make this show possible year after year — our artisans, crafters, concessioners, workers, our family, and importantly, our guests and families,” Wilt said.