The Foothills Art Festival is a small arts festival that showcases local art, while also offering some food.
2023 DATE: October 6-8, 2023
Location: ParksEdge Event Center
601 E Main St
Jackson, OH 45640
Website: https://www.facebook.com/foothillsartfestival/
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This post documents my experience on October 16, 2010.
When I was heading to the Foothills Art Festival in Jackson, I was in a bit of a time crunch. The following festival would be the Ohio Smoked Meat & BBQ Festival in Nelsonville and samples went from only 11:30 to 2.
As my stomach grumbled, I looked to the clock…10:45…navigation had me arriving in Nelsonville at 12:15 if I skipped Jackson. And if I went to Jackson as scheduled, I might be able to arrive by 1:30 or so.
As the exit for Rte 35 got closer, I almost passed it, but my curiosity got the best of me and I got off the highway toward Jackson…
…into the Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp…
…and to the Foothills Art Festival.
This was a different kind of arts festival than others I’ve attended. Instead of having various artists sell their works from typical festival booths (like the Columbus Arts Festival, for example)…
…this was an indoor showcase of a judged competition of more than 450 works…
…divided into 7 categories.
Put on by the Southern Hills Arts Council, the 29th annual Foothills Art Festival brought together both professional and emerging artists from the tri-state area for all to admire…
…and festival goers were given a ballet to vote on their favorite work.
The works presented, which were also available for sale, included…
…paper mache…
…clay…
…paintings galore (these are only sections)…
…and still so much more.
I’d like to keep my ballot vote a secret, if you don’t mind (hint: it’s in these pics somewhere).
Children had the opportunity to make art all their own, thanks to the help of local art teachers and high school students (this also gave their folks more time to admire the exhibit), who assisted in an activities area on the upper level.
Other times included classical music to enhance the experience.
But being that it was too early for the music and I was too old for the activities, I enhanced the experience in my own way…
…through the cafeteria.
With Nelsonville still a good hour away…
…I took great pleasure in a pumpkin roll slice to appease my stomach for the time being.