Can anyone give me a recent review of the Winterfair in Ohio. Just saw old posts on it and was wondering if it is worth the trip? Thx
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Can anyone give me a recent review of the Winterfair in Ohio. Just saw old posts on it and was wondering if it is worth the trip? Thx
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Hey, Lisa! Did you end up attending Winterfair in Cincinnati, OH, in 2015? If so, what did you think? I have been accepted to the event this year and am curious if you thought the trip was worth it?
I've done both shows for a few years now.
Many artists do both shows because they're only 100 miles apart and if they're traveling they might as well make the most of the trip.
Columbus is big and the quality of art is outstanding. Yes, people come to buy. Load-in and -out can get a little dicey, as you have to jockey for a parking spot along the perimeter of the building. And it's usually snowing and very cold. But the artists seem to work together well, and the window of time is big enough that everyone eventually gets a turn and it works out.
The ODC staff bends over backward to make the Cincinnati show over Thanksgiving weekend easy to do. The show is Friday-Sunday, and you can set up on Wednesday and/or on Thursday. Plenty of artists finish their set-up on Thursday afternoon and then go out for Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant -- many good ones to choose from, especially in downtown Cincinnati just across the river.
The quality of art is also good in Cincinnati, however when you walk the show you'll invariably come across some booths that make you scratch your head and wonder what the jury was thinking. I've always assumed that because this show is the little brother they have a harder time filling all the booths.
The Cincinnati show can seem slow. I know artists who have spent most of the show grumbling about how they're never going to skip Thanksgiving at home again. But then a funny thing happens -- when Sunday comes to a close and you count your receipts the total is quite respectable and better than you had thought. So let's just say the Cincinnati version can be painful at times but it pays off in the end.
I would recommend both shows.
I have been in the Columbus Winterfair for the past three years, and my income from it has increased each year. My prices range from $25 to $150 for my glass bugs, and most of my sales are in the $35 - $60 price range. Crowds are usually good to great, and it's a show where customers come looking to buy. It was exciting for me last year when I got a lot of folks coming to my booth saying "I was hoping I'd find you here this year!" This year I have also applied to the Cincinnati show, I'm hoping I do as well there as in Columbus!
I did the show in Cinn. around 2008 when I lived in Northeast Ohio.
Great show in all ways, but not very busy ( I hate to sound so negative, I really DO like shows).
I had always heard from my Ohio artist friends that Columbus was the better show of the two.
I moved out of Ohio in 2010, so I don't have anything recent to tell you.
I have only done the Columbus show for about 15 years off and on. To me, it's a Christmas show and I usually do alright,have sold a lot of smaller priced things,not so much high end things.Good crowds and a well run show.
plus, Lisa, here is a video I took when I attended the Columbus version a couple of years ago, to give you a flavor of the show: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/columbus-oh-winterfai...
Lisa,
I have participated in both Winterfairs for the past 2 years (2013 & 2014) and have applied to the shows in 2015. They are distinctly different, although one might see some of the same artists at both shows.
Cincinnati is smaller. It is held in a beautiful convention center located in Covington, KY over the Thanksgiving weekend. The organizers are wonderful and responsive. Load in and out is relatively easy with convention workers available to assist you. The crowds the past two years were good. I am sure if you wrote ODC you could get some numbers since they charge an admission. Personally, Cincinnati is my favorite of the two shows, but I am sure there is someone out there who would disagree with me.
Columbus Winterfair is big. It is held in a large County Fair building. In 2013 the weather was bad and attendance was down. Not so in 2014 and crowds and sales were up for me compared to the year before.
My advise to you would be to look at past participants on ODC website and see how your work compares to other artists that have attended. This might help you decide.