Ohio Mart kicks off fall events at Stan Hywet
WEST AKRON — The court jester
may be gone — as well as the rest of the Renaissance-themed
characters — but you can’t joke about the
success of Ohio Mart. The fall arts and crafts festival,
which took place Oct. 5-8 on the grounds of Stan Hywet
Hall & Gardens, is now 40 years old and yet as popular
as ever.
More than 15,000 visitors were
expected to attend the four-day festival, said Jim Urban,
who noted he is the first man to serve
as chairman in Ohio Mart’s 40-year history.
“We decided to drop the Renaissance costumes because Ohio Mart wasn’t really a Renaissance fair,” Urban said. “This year, we are promoting Ohio Mart as the lead-off event for a month-long fall festival here at Stan Hywet.”
Other events in October include a wine tasting, Apple Day, pumping carving, a children’s scavenger hunt and spooky storytelling.
This year, the three large artist tents were strategically placed to encourage Ohio Mart visitors to explore more of the estate’s grounds and gardens, said Urban. The Stitchery Showcase, usually a spring event, was moved to coincide with Ohio Mart and was included in the same admission price.
Also new were 20 fanciful scarecrows scattered around the grounds. Too pretty to scare off crows, the works of art were created by community artists from the Cleveland Museum of Art and feature design elements inspired by Stan Hywet’s interior, architecture and grounds.
Shown at top, Pat Mihelis, left, of West Akron, invited her friend, Sheila Collins, of Augusta, Ga., to spend the day at Ohio Mart shopping and enjoying the gardens. They are shown next to one of the scarecrows.
Shown above right, Emily Backo, 5, of Bath, paints a ghost on a pumpkin.
Urban noted that his male influence
as event chairman might have had something to do with
another Ohio Mart “first” — the beer
tent located not far from the ever-popular gingerbread
cookies and kettle corn. —
By Holly Pupino
Photos: Holly Pupino
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