Ohio is deeply invested in the arts and in keeping art accessible its residents. Arts and crafts shows are a big part of that mission. There are shows almost every weekend of the year; a few are particularly notable due to their size and longevity.
The Delaware Arts Festival takes place in Delaware, Ohio, which is just north of Columbus. The first festival took place in 1973. It usually takes place in May over a weekend, and includes a juried competition based on originality, technique, craftsmanship and design. All artwork in the festival is required to be original, and there are prizes, including cash and a waiver of exhibition fees for the following year. Exhibitors are required to apply for a booth in the festival.
Summerfair Cincinnati takes place the first weekend in June each year in Coney Island Park. According to the Summerfair website, the first fair was in 1968 and put on by residents of Cincinnati's Mt. Adams neighborhood. The fair grew from there, eventually moving to its current location. Summerfair has won numerous awards for its contributions to the arts in Cincinnati. It offers a juried competition with over 300 artists and craftspeople. Over 20,000 people attend each year, and it's considered one of the top arts and crafts fairs in the country.
The Columbus Arts Festival also takes place in June. Attending the festival is free, and there is ample parking in the area. The festival started in 1961, and took place on the statehouse lawn. The festival has grown to more than 230 artists and craftspeople from all over the country. In addition to art, there is also live music, gourmet food and activities for all ages. There's also a paid VIP option that allows backstage and intimate access to the festival activities.
The Ohio State Fair is the biggest show of them all. It takes place annually through July and August. The Creative Arts competition includes antique arts, baking and culinary arts, fashion arts, food preservation arts, handcrafted arts, icing, needle arts and several new competitions each year. There is also a Fine Arts category for art pieces, including paintings, sculpture and short films, with several prizes awarded each year. More than 800,000 people attend the Ohio State Fair over the 12 days it's open.
