The Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival is a beloved tradition in Southeastern Ohio. The 56th annual Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival will be held in Cambridge City Park Friday August 14 – Sunday August 16. Even though August is many months and degrees away from today, the Festival committee is actively planning this year’s event. The team, led by new director Jessica Martin, is putting together an event to feature amazing visual and performing artists guaranteed to please the entire family.
Jan Wilson and Stephanie Bridwell prepare for the Mardi Gras celebration.
If you want to get a taste of the Festival literally, you can join the Salt Fork Festival krewe at the Mardi Gras themed Culinary Challenge at the Cambridge Country Club. This fun event is held annually on Fat Tuesday (February 17). Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday” is a celebration of feasting and merrymaking on the day before the Christian Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, this is a time for indulgence before 40 days of fasting and sacrifice leading up to Easter.
Rusty Parsons from The Community Bank won People’s Choice in 2025.
It features local chefs competing in the categories of Appetizers, Side Dish, Main Dish, and Desserts. A panel of three celebrity judges will pick the winners, and the audience will select the People’s Choice winner.
Greg Fowler won first place in the Main Dish category at the 2025 Culinary Challenge
These outstanding artists won awards during the 2025 Salt Fork Festival.
The festival seeks to display outstanding artists and artisans in a variety of media. Each year approximately 90 artists are on display. You can find a variety of artists working in media such as painting, photography, ceramics, fiber, metalwork, and jewelry to name a few. Artists will find an appreciative audience in Cambridge and will be eligible to compete for a number of awards. Applications are now available via Zapplication or by e-mailing sfacfdirector@gmail.com. Applications are being accepted through June 30.
The Marketplace is a great place to pick up some tasty Ohio products to take home with you.
Another popular element of the festival is the Marketplace tent where festival-goers can purchase Ohio-made goodies and other natural products including honey and flowers. Approximately 10 vendors join us for this fun event. You can visit the Salt Fork website for more information: https://www.saltforkfestival.org/market-place
Mark your calendar for August 14-16 to attend the 56th annual Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival in the beautiful Cambridge City Park. This is a juried festival with only top-quality works of art on display. You will also enjoy a wide range of entertainment, a variety of concessions to satisfy your hunger or thirst, a fantastic Student Art Tent, Heritage Arts Tent, many crafts for the youngsters, and some surprises along the way. There’s something for everyone.
We hope you will join the Salt Fork Festival krewe at the Culinary Challenge as it is their only fund raiser of the year to keep the festival tradition continuing. It’s a fun evening of tasting creative creations from our local chefs and visiting with friends. Perhaps you’ll spot a silent auction item that you could easily use. Get your ticket online sometime soon. If you like, put on some festive Mardi Gras garments in purple, green, and gold, a sparkly headdress, and of course necklaces, to add to the spirit of the evening. Let the good times roll!
The Elk’s Eye Art Market has a new home in the old Elk’s building in Zanesville.
Carol Bridwell and her daughters wanted to provide a place for Muskingum County and all Southeastern Ohio artists and artisans to display and sell their creations. Carol began looking for the right place for this venture several years ago and knew she wanted an old building as she especially likes those from the early 1900s.
The original Elks building in 1913 was quite elaborate for its time.
While she checked out several buildings, her interest was piqued when she saw an ad for the Old Elks building in Zanesville being sold at auction. This building was erected in 1913 so fit the type of building she was looking for. Some thought it should be torn down for a parking lot. Although Carol did not see inside the building, she did in fact purchase it at auction in July 2021. “I was taking a chance.” Then the work began!
Since that time, the family has worked long hours to lovingly revitalize it and make it the new home for The Elk’s Eye Art Market at 22 S. 4th Street. That name was chosen because, in the Indian language of the Lenape, the Muskingum River (mus weshkinkw) is translated traditionally as “Elk’s Eye.”
Everything of value had been sold from the building by the Elks in a 2010 auction. That included kitchen equipment, all the furniture in the building, chandeliers, and even stained glass windows.
First things that needed attention were the bricks on parts of the outside of the building, which required the help of a mason. There was no electricity, water, or heat in the building so those issues all had to be solved.
Carol and her two daughters turned their dream into reality. Pictured are Stephanie, Carol, and Alicia.
Carol and her daughters are list makers so had page after page filled with the sheer volume of what needed to be done. But when Carol starts any project, she is determined to give her best all the way to the finish. Her great organizational skills make this possible.
Falling plaster made it necessary to replace all the ceiling tiles as well as new lights.
New electrical wiring had to be installed along with a new breaker box and light switches. Every light in the place is new. New water lines and a new furnace required outside help.
While renovating the building, Carol and her family have made many interesting discoveries hidden within including a dedication book from 1913, certificates from local names of note, and contracts. There was even a book with costs of building the 1913 Elks Lodge.
This interesting Elks ledger shows some of the early costs back in the beginning.
When peeling back from the walls layer after layer of paneling, paint, and furring strips, they found walls with beautiful hand detailing in what will be the center room on the main floor. Unfortunately, the design could not be saved; however, Carol did take pictures and is hoping to restore that pattern in the future.
The building is very well structured with walls three bricks thick and every floor is constructed of thick concrete and steel beams. It includes a basement, two floors, and a roof which was said to have been a Beer Garden used for parties during the prohibition era.
A beautiful fireplace displays original locally produced Weller tile.
Beautiful brick is now exposed as well as awesome tile and hardwood floors. Multiple fireplaces are adorned with locally produced Weller tile, which adds a lovely, historic touch.
Floors were uncovered, sanded, and give a shiny new coat while walls were all repainted.
Carol has never required much sleep as her mind is always busy with new ideas. First thing in the morning she takes a mile walk with her dog, Clyde. After that, she heads downtown Zanesville to work on another task on her list.
Her friendly dog Clyde also serves as a model for some of the wooden animal silhouettes she makes.
The family with the help of talented friends works almost daily and full force on the weekends to make this a great art venue in downtown Zanesville. Weekends are filled with a little bit of art, a little bit of architecture, a whole lot of Zanesville history, and dreaming of what could be.
Carol Bridwell displays her woven rugs and her wooden silhouettes and signs at the Salt Fork Festival.
Elk’s Eye Art Market is the first venture of Elk’s Eye Endeavors, LLC. The market is the brainchild of Carol Bridwell and her two daughters, Stephanie Bridwell and Alicia Snider. They have all been involved in the local art community for the last six years and want to bring new opportunities to the artist community.
Maddy Fraioli, well-known for her Floriware designs, now produces pottery at their farm in Roseville.
While working at festivals throughout the area, Carol realized that artists needed another place to display their creations throughout the year instead of just a few days here and there. She said, “If artists don’t have a place to display their work, they miss out on opportunities to sell.”
Carol admires Steve Shackelford’s photo of Redbud on canvas.
Many local artists, sixteen so far in June, will be displaying their media in this retail showcase. Some of those include Maddy Fraioli, Carol Bridwell, Marilyn Knell, Myron Knell, Kathy German, and John Taylor-Lehman. Watch their Facebook page @ Elks Eye Endeavors as new artists are added. Carol wants, “ A place with a variety of kinds of art where everyone feels comfortable coming in to view the art and visit.”
John Taylor-Lehman designed this cat using beer bottle caps.
Carol wanted to have a place that was accessible with regular hours. Therefore, the Elk’s Eye Art Market will be open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10-6. While Muskingum County art will be featured, all artists from Southeastern Ohio are welcome to display their works. The only fee artists pay is a commission when they sell a piece. If you have any questions or would like to display and sell your art, email elkseyezville@gmail.com.
Jon Shaeffer uses old chains from the farm to create this striking eagle.
It turns out that Carol’s family had an experience in this same building several years ago when Carol and her husband were celebrating their 25th anniversary. At that time, the family had a reception for them in the basement of the Elks Lodge. No wonder she was attracted to the building.
The old structure has been revitalized inside and out in the hopes of bringing new opportunities to the area art community. Stop by Elk’s Eye Art Market at 22 S. 4th Street in Zanesville and see the beauty of the building as well as the great selection of local artwork.
“Art will have a home at The Elk’s Eye Art Market that will appeal to both men and women.”
Gypsy Road Trip 