First Ohio Makes Festival Weekend

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The weekend of October 6th to the 7th, is the first Ohio Makes Festival at Zane State College.

There were tents set up for over 30 Ohio made crafters. There is also food trucks and live entertainment both days. There are pumpkins for the kids who attend to paint and take home. Chip Clark, IDEA Lab Manager, said the festival proceeds are to help raise money for the IDEA Lab at Zane State College.

“The IDEA Lab is the makers space here at Zane State College. Even though it is here at the college, it is open to anyone by membership. Memberships are very affordable, it’s 240 dollars a year. That gives you 24 hour day access to the lab,” Clark said. You can come in, I can show you how to use the various equipment that we have in the lab. We have people making anything from Christmas ornaments to we have some local manufacturers using the lab for an RND Center.”

Clark said this lab is for the community, it is a creative space and they are hoping to expand. Attending the event means you can shop with the local vendors set up or even take a tour of the IDEA Lab.

“We wanted to keep it as local as possible. We wanted to show people what can be made to either if they want to start a business, improve an existing business or anything to do with manufacturing and making in Ohio,” Clark said.

The event is free to attend and there is free parking as well. If you are interested in attending, you can go to Zane State College Sunday October 7th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.