The 63rd annual celebration brings art, competition, workshops and autumn fun
For one October weekend, the Delaware County Fairgrounds will trade horses and midway rides for something decidedly more unusual. The 63rd Annual Ohio Gourd Show and Festival returns October 2 through 4, bringing together gourd growers, artists, craftspeople and curious visitors for three days devoted to just about everything that can be grown, carved, painted, shaped or created from a gourd. Ohio Gourd Society. It’s a nice leisurely trip from here, and the Fairgrounds are on the Galion side of the city.
More Than Something From The Garden
The annual show has developed into a showcase for the surprisingly broad world of gourd art. Visitors can expect everything from naturally shaped specimens to elaborately carved, painted and decorated pieces.
The festival also features gourd music, food, demonstrations and special programs, reflecting the Ohio Gourd Society’s mission to promote both the cultivation of gourds and their use as an artistic medium. The organization dates to 1946 and serves as the Beta Chapter of the American Gourd Society. Ohio Gourd Society. This year’s show will include a juried art and horticultural competition, artists and vendors, demonstrations, a silent auction and raffle, and opportunities to purchase gourds and finished gourd crafts. Free make-and-take activities are planned Saturday and Sunday. FestivalNet. Competition judging begins at 11:30 AM Saturday, October 3. Ohio Gourd Society
A Chance To Try It Yourself
The weekend is not limited to experienced growers and artists. Gourd art workshops are open to beginners as well as more seasoned creators, giving visitors a chance to move from admiring the work to making something themselves. Festival organizers also plan demonstrations and children’s activities throughout the weekend.
And then there is one of the show’s more memorable traditions: the gourd costume contest, adding another dimension to a festival already known for finding imaginative uses for its namesake crop. Destination Delaware County Ohio
Three Days At The Fairgrounds
The 63rd Annual Ohio Gourd Show and Festival will be held at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, 236 Pennsylvania Avenue. Hours are noon to 5:00 PM Friday, October 2; 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday, October 3; and 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Sunday, October 4, and admission is free.
For Delaware, it is another autumn tradition arriving almost immediately after fair season, only this time the prize-winning attractions may be carved, painted, twisted into remarkable shapes or transformed into works of art.
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