Celebrate the arts, entertainment and Ohio-made food

Beverly Kerr
·3 min read

The Salt Fork Arts & Craft Festival brings many artists and their creative talents to Cambridge City Park. It provides entertainment throughout the day and foods to savor while enjoying the festivities Aug. 12-14. Admission is free.

Opening ceremonies will be held at the Gateway Entrance on Edgeworth Avenue at noon on Friday featuring music by the Caldwell High School Marching Band. Welcomes will be made by several local officials before the ribbon cutting.

Artists

Stop by and see the creative work of many artists from all over the United States. There will be a wide range of work from paintings and jewelry to wood carvings and glass. Find old favorites there like Michael Warren, who creates designs with a chainsaw or visit Gene and Maggie Jorgensen for their jewelry. Don't forget to check out the Student Art display with more than 250 pieces contributed by area students.

Visitors have a chance in the People's Choice Tent to vote on the pieces of artwork they find most appealing. This is a special award as the artists want to know if their work is something many people enjoy.

Entertainment

Several popular groups will be returning, such as The Loves Gospel Quartet, Cambridge City Band, CHS Alumni Jazz Band, John Glenn String Sounds, Northwest Territory and the Festival Chorus. New this year for the children will be the Madcap Puppets from Cincinnati presenting “Fantastic Fairy Tales." Kids can also enjoy Melody Stolle's energetic storytelling.

A special feature this year will be a free workshop by the Kevin Prater Bluegrass Band. The band will be performing in the Performing Arts Tent at 11 a.m. and noon, with the workshop to follow at 1:30 p.m. in the park with the various instruments they use – mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass, and even vocal. Bring your instruments along for some free pointers and join them for a mini-concert after the workshop.

Marketplace

Ohio-made foods are featured at the festival. Enjoy Candy's Gourmet Fudge, Jose Madrid Salsa, Misty Mountain Estate, Three Blooms Flower Farm, and Crackpot Coffee. Copley Bee Co, a family of beekeepers, returns to the festival with honey in a variety of forms. Golden Boy Biscuits gives you a chance to take home some homemade dog biscuits or some dog toys for your best friend.

Heritage Arts

Local artists will be displaying their talents while you watch. See clay pots being made, a blacksmith at work over an open fire, quilters, and learn local history. Chuck and Shana Fair always attract attention as they make clay pottery and share how it is decorated. A special attraction this year will be Eli Wilson, who is demonstrating blacksmith techniques over an open fire outside the tent. Step back in time as you watch these artists.

Another new feature will be Hilary Frambes, a chalk artist from Plain City. She enjoys painting large-scale chalk murals for festivals and will be drawing sidewalk pictures during the festival. Children will be encouraged to enter a contest and draw their own chalk pictures.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Celebrate the arts, entertainment and Ohio-made food