Day-Trippin: Shaker Woods

shaker-woods-festival

Deep in the woods of Columbiana OH, a quick hopskip scenic drive from Beaver County, for three weekends in August lives the Shaker Woods festival.  This is a craft show that surpasses all other craft shows! It is massive! There are handmade goods, food, entertainment, kid’s classes – you name it, it’s happening. That’s probably why it lasts for three weekends and has been going on for as long as I can remember (and that’s a long time).

The Ultimate Craft Festival

This craft festival is a full-on experience in Shaker living. Everyone involved in the event is dressed in period clothing. There are Shaker crafts for the kids, and Shaker inspired food for everyone (although, there is much more food than that). People strolling around singing and playing music. Everyone really gets into it. It is really neat to see!

There are over 200 vendors and over 20 food booths in this massive space. It is divided into seven different villages.  Seriously. Massive space! The majority of the vendors have been to Shaker Woods before, but there are a number of new vendors as well. A little of everything, and enough of it to please anyone!

Because it is actually in the woods, the dynamics are a little different than, say, Garrison Day in Beaver. I definitely recommend wearing comfortable shoes (did that just show my age?!) because, again, it is in the woods. You wind through paths to get to the different ‘villages’.

There are acres of free parking which means a good deal of additional walking. However, there is a club car available to take you to and from your car, so if you buy a lot of goodies, you don’t have to worry about lugging it all back. OR if you park really far, you will have the opportunity to get a ride to the gate.

Fun for the Kids

The kiddos will have a good time too! There is a craft time daily on Saturday from 1 pm until 2:45 pm, and again on Sunday from 1 pm until 1:45 pm. The kids can learn a little something about Shaker life all while creating a masterpiece they can take home!

The best part is that if they are over 5, you can actually leave them in the safe Shaker Schoolhouse for the duration of the craft and shop alone! This is a perfect time to grab some Christmas goodies, or even just have some quiet time while wandering through the woods. The cost is $10 per class, per child. Definitely give this a look!

…And the Food!

After the kids are back from the Schoolhouse, it would be a good time to take a food break. Good thing there are over 20 different food vendors! There is really a little of everything at each booth. Some have snacks like dried fruits and nuts or candy, and others have a full array of sandwiches, BBQ Pulled Pork or Kielbasa and Kraut, and gyros. There are desserts and drinks, parfaits and slushies. See? A little of everything!

Going on throughout the day will be some entertainment too! There is a strolling quartet that performs all day, and then at set times and at the different stages there are other musical acts. Those change each weekend and the full schedule is available on their website. Each day there will be caricatures and face painting as well.

Be sure to look around the website for specifics on all of the vendors, including detail on the food. As I was sifting through, I noticed a lot of the vendors have their goods on Etsy and other online shops. It gives you a nice preview of what a wide assortment of vendors will be there. I caught some awesome looking jewelry, all sorts of different blown glass, some hand painted and personalized chalkboards, and then some hand carved little puppies. Super, super cute stuff!!!

The festival will run Saturday and Sunday August 8-9, 15-16, and 22-23. Each day it runs from 10 am until 5 pm.  Tickets are $8 per day for those aged 13 and up. Kids under 12 get in free.

Again though, because it is in the woods, they do not suggest you bring strollers. Pushing one on the bumpy dirt path seems like a pretty impossible feat to me, especially with the amount of people that attend. Perfect time to bust out the baby carrier! 

Parking is free, and also another good-to-know tidbit, they will have ATM machines on site. In case you get carried away and spend your budgeted amount, you have quick access to more! No judgment here – It happens to the best of us!!

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