The Hueston Woods Pioneer Farm's 57th annual Arts and Crafts Fair on June 8 and 9 was ushered in by warm weather and excited visitors. The event, put on by the Oxford Museum Association, welcomes around 2,000 guests every year to enjoy the art, woodworking, food and more.
The annual event hosted more than 70 exhibitors this year from across three states — Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana — along with around 40 volunteers.
During the fair, visitors had the opportunity to eat at the food truck "Bite My Sammie", stroll around the pioneer barn, try the funnel cake or buy a gift for someone special.
Robert Carmean, the Oxford Museum Association board president, said the variety of different exhibitors, volunteers and visitors who engage with the fair make it special, especially because they've been planning it since November 2023.
"[You get to] engage with contributors in the community and people that have talents that I don't have," Carmean said. "You look at some of the artwork that they produce, you know, mind boggling that they can do some of these things. Whether it's wood carving, from a block of wood, to making jewelry and things of that nature, [it's a] wide range of talents that you get exposed to."
Carmean said funds from the fair go back to supporting the Museum Association's activities. The association hosts summer programs for children and puts on the Hueston Woods Apple Butter Festival in October every year. The funds also aid in the upkeep of the Pioneer Farm grounds and historical buildings.
However, not all of the proceeds go toward the programs; the vendors keep all of their profits, whether they're businesses, hobbies or both. These vendors included the Ohio Maple Syrup booth, which passed out free samples of homemade maple syrup tapped from its own property.
Jewel Bartels, a family business owner from Preble county, said John and Jewel's Maple Syrup didn't start out as a business, though, but a science fair project. Around 35 years ago, her step-daughter decided to do her middle school science project on maple syrup. They started tapping with "small" and "inappropriate" equipment, however, they've improved their techniques through different trainings from the Maple Producers Association.
"It definitely started out as a hobby, and I think it was just the process of making something from your property, just creating something [that I liked]," Bartels said.
Now, the family sells their syrup at different fairs across the county, even gaining help from family members.
"I like tapping the trees. That's the fun part," Bartels said. "Getting out in the woods and tapping the trees. We've had the grandkids come do that with us. And that's probably my favorite part."
On Saturday, June 8 the Arts and Crafts Fair brought in visitors from hours away (top left). The greenery and hanging plants attracted shoppers to the first row of booths at the fair (top middle). More than 70 vendors showed up on Saturday and Sunday, including Shademakers Garden Center (top right). John and Jewel's maple syrup booth attracted customers with their free samples (bottom left). Marv Lindsey's business Marv'elous Soaps uses real beer in their soaps (bottom middle). The Arts and Crafts Fair every years brings in around 2,000 guests (bottom right). Photos by Taylor Stumbaugh
Although there were rows of different vendors, shopping wasn't the only upside to the fair. Pamela Thomas, an Oxford resident, said her sister, Lisa Schaaff, traveled an hour and a half with her kids to see her and to visit the fair.
"I say it's a good day to bring family together," Thomas said. "You know, it's just a fun lil' event."
Schaaff added that they've been coming to the arts and crafts fair for years because of the high quality jewelry she finds there.
"If I'm going to spend money on jewelry," Schaaff said, "I'd rather get it from an artisan."
