COLUMBIANA — Shaker Woods Festival, a nationally recognized craft festival, is scheduled for three weekends: Aug. 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26.

Handcrafted items, food and live entertainment are featured during these three weekends in August.

“We’re honored once again of having the opportunity to celebrate ‘the simple life’ with thousands this August,” said Lana Wilt, who along with her husband, Rob, are the promoters of Shaker Woods Festival. “August rolls around pretty quickly, but we’re ready. The woods are beautifully manicured and the crafters and entertainment are anxious to welcome guests from across the country.”

The Shaker Woods Festival, founded to honor the 18th century Shaker community, offers more than 200 craftspeople, representing artists and crafts from all across the country.

Each juried craftsperson, dressed in Shaker period clothing, offers his/her wares in a cool, manicured, wooded area. The level grounds feature crushed gravel footpaths for easy walking and access from acres of free parking.

Crafters demonstrate their unique skills without the use of modern conveniences — not even electricity. The diverse crafts include basket weaving, blacksmithing, broommaking, leather work, paintings, pottery, quilts, custom garden stones, plants, toys, jewelry and woodwork. The items for sale range from small miniatures to rooms of custom-made furniture and hand-carved masterpieces. Some of the crafters exhibit only at the Shaker Woods Festival.

An extensive selection of food is available, from soups and sandwiches to complete meals — some cooked over an open fire. Snack foods and desserts also are available.

Entertainment, from bluegrass and cloggers to country and gospel, is featured on all three stages throughout the festival.

Darryl Gatlin, a native of Beaver County, Pa., returns to Shaker Woods for two weekends — Aug. 11-12 and 25-26 — performing on the Meeting House Stage.

Making their Shaker Woods debut on the Garden Stage is Bill Gorby and the Musical Mercenaries on Aug. 25 and 26. The band consists of a trio of Ohio Valley musicians and singers who perform an eclectic array of Americana music with roots in folk, bluegrass and old-time country music, with a diverse mix of traditional songs, classic and modern tunes.

Back on the Shaker Woods’ Garden Stage is the New Towne Cloggers on Aug. 18.

Performing Aug. 11-12 on the Garden Stage is Vanessa Campagna. God’s Quad with a Southern Gospel sound and smooth four-part harmony, performs on Aug. 19 on the Garden Stage.

Cody Gibson, an American country music singer/songwriter, will perform Aug. 18-19.

Ken Tynan, chainsaw artist, returns to Shaker Woods Aug. 11-12. He will create three to four carvings each day using this increasingly popular art form.

Additional performers and events include Yankee Gray Band, Daniel Grey, Michael Christopher, the Yurco Boys and caricature artists.

At the Shaker Schoolhouse each day of the festival will be Micheline Thompson, creator of MichMoccs, a company that makes innovative moccasins for babies and young children. MishMoccs moccasins will be available for purchase with a percentage of sales being donated to local disabled veterans.

In the early 1980s, Sam and Sue Ferguson, founders of the festival, were concerned that a time might come when the sale of their farm products might not cover the rising cost of producing them. While deciding how to extend the land into a more profitable enterprise, the Fergusons hosted an Apple Butter festival in 1982. That first fall festival has blossomed into the highly acclaimed annual Shaker Woods Festival.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Daily general admission tickets are $8 for adults and will be sold at the gate. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. No pets or alcoholic beverages are permitted on the grounds. Children’s strollers are not recommended.

Shaker Woods grounds are located at 44337 County Line Road, one mile north of the intersection of Route 14.

Information may be obtained by calling (330) 482-0214.