Ohio's Lake County is a diverse stretch of the Buckeye State that extends from the shores of Lake Erie into the rural north of the state. In fact, the combination of coastal views and country living has earned the county the distinction of having a "New England ambiance." The county's country roots are particularly on display at Lake County's numerous craft shows, including the annual Lake County Fair. From traditional crafts to primitive crafts, the area shows exhibit a range of skill and talent.
The Lake Metroparks Farmpark, in Lake County, hosts the Quilts 2011 craft exposition beginning in February and running through the end of the month of March. The craft show, billed as "one of Ohio’s finest quilt shows," has several featured quilting artists and displays over 200 quilts. The show also features lectures and workshops that deal with the craft of quilting, and quilts that are on display are judged for their quality and artistry. During weeks of operation, the show is open Tuesdays through Sundays at normal business hours, 9 a.m to 5 p.m.
Starting in July 2011, the City of Mentor in Lake County, Ohio, is home to the Mentor's Old Village Market, an annual arts and crafts show that features a wide range of vendors. The market is held for four weekends in a row, into the third week of August in 2011, with a different theme at the market each weekend. In addition to crafts, the Mentor's Old Village Market also features activities for the kids, live music and vendors that sell locally-grown produce and food. The event is held at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site and is co-hosted by that historic site and the National Park Service.
One of the premier craft events of the country, the annual Lake County Fair combines old-fashioned fair games and atmosphere with a huge crafts and arts exposition. Held at the Lake County Fairgrounds, the fair also features a wide range of agricultural exhibitions, from livestock to tractor pulling to horse shows. Special events at the 2011 fair include Bike Night and Demo Derby, which features a demolition show of lawnmowers. A wide range of crafts are also judged at the show, including food-oriented crafts such as pickling to traditional crafts such as quilting and woodwork.
More than 150 arts and crafts vendors converge at the Village Peddler Festival, a Lake County craft show held at the Lake Metroparks Farmpark. The annual event is staged in September, with the 2011 festival occurring on the weekend of September 17 and 18. Billed as an "outdoor marketplace," the festival offers a full slate of diverse goods and crafts for sale and exhibit, from folk goods and art to basketry and quilts to jewelry and textiles. In fact, a wide range of craft styles are featured, from traditional crafts to Victorian crafts. There are also food vendors, including an on-site candy shop and bakery.
