Holmes County Art Festival returns Sept. 20 in Historic Downtown Millersburg

Historic Downtown Millersburg will soon present a celebration of creativity, craftsmanship and community during a gathering that brings together makers, artists and art lovers for a weekend.

Historic Downtown Millersburg will be a flurry of activity Sept. 20 when the fourth annual Holmes County Art Festival sets up shop.

The art and activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be centered around the courthouse area in downtown Millersburg near the square.

From handmade jewelry and ceramics to paintings and mixed-media works, every piece tells a story, and the Holmes County Art Festival invites everyone to experience the beauty of art.

Over the past years, HDM has brought in countless artists who provided a look at all types of art mediums, from oils and watercolor to woodcarving, pottery, wool artists, photographers and more.

This year will be no different as HDM Executive Director Taylor Sigler has already created a fantastic lineup of artists. Even so, she continues to seek additional artists interested in showcasing their talents for this jury festival.

“We are looking for any artists or artisans who would like to join us for this great event,” Sigler said. “We invite all levels of work, as long as they are handmade articles. The one thing we really enjoy about this event is that it celebrates real artisans sharing their incredible gifts with the public, and it is always a really great variety of talented artisans and artists who make it a very fun and interesting day for visitors.”

Sigler said because it is a jury festival, each artist does need to be approved, but they are eager to see the collection of talent grow as the show approaches.

Returning to the show this year is Akron Glassworks, which will once again showcase its talent of blowing glass. There also will be weavers, textilers and the woodcarvers group from The Wilderness Center near Wilmot.

Another addition this year will be the return of the Ohio Plein Air Society members, who will be located around town, their easels set up, their paint brushes gliding over the canvas as they create paintings of whatever structures capture their fancy.

The group also will offer a kids Plein Air competition during the morning of the festival.

“There’s going to be plenty of fun activities going on throughout the day,” Sigler said, adding there will be multiple live musicians playing throughout the day.

There will be demonstrations and vendors throughout the day as well, allowing patrons to witness art being created in real time. Sigler said the level of artists ranges from beginners to very experienced artists who have been perfecting their craft for decades.

“Since it is a jury festival, we do have some standards we will accept because we do want to make sure we keep everything handmade in showcasing each individual's artistry,” Sigler said.

For more details or to sign up as an artist or artisan, call or email Sigler at 330-674-2412 or director@historicdowntownmillersburg.com.