Staff report
The River Valley Wood Carvers, a nonprofit serving the Greater Cincinnati region, will host the Ohio Valley Woodcarvers Expo 2026 on September 26-27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Elks Lodge Facility in Cold Spring.
The two-day event brings together some of the region’s most accomplished wood carvers and wood burning artists for a weekend of live demonstrations, juried competition, and stunning hand-crafted artwork — all open to the public for a $5 donation at the door.
Beyond the artistry, the Expo serves as the hub for RVWC’s three signature community missions: the Holiday Ornament Program, which delivers hand-carved ornaments each Christmas to children in inner-city schools and foster care across the Cincinnati metro area; Hearts for Hope, a new initiative through which club members hand-carve decorative wooden hearts to benefit the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer; and a new Youth Education Program, through which club members begin teaching wood carving to school-age children through 4-H and in-school instruction each September — just weeks before the Expo opens its doors.
The Ohio Valley Woodcarvers Expo is the signature annual event of the River Valley Wood Carvers and one of the most distinctive arts showcases in southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky.
The two-day 2026 Expo promises an immersive experience for arts enthusiasts, families, and curious newcomers alike. Attendees will move through rows of breathtaking finished pieces — wildlife sculptures, detailed relief panels, expressive figures, and intricate wood burning artwork — each one the product of hours of patient, skilled craftsmanship.
Live carving demonstrations run throughout the weekend, offering visitors a rare, up-close look at master carvers transforming raw wood into art in real time. The soft sound of gouges and knives at work, the clean scent of fresh wood shavings, and the quiet concentration of artists fully absorbed in their craft create an atmosphere unlike any other arts event in the region.
Competition judging adds an element of excitement, with regional carvers vying for recognition across multiple categories. Vendor booths offer tools, supplies, and finished pieces, and a wide variety of hand-carved and hand-burned artwork will be available for purchase directly from the artists who made them — one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pieces that cannot be found anywhere else. Door prizes create additional buzz on the floor throughout both days.
Admission is just a $5 donation at the door — an extraordinarily affordable entry point for a full weekend of world-class craft, making the Expo an ideal outing for families, art lovers, and anyone curious about one of America’s great folk art traditions.
That $5 goes directly to supporting RVWC’s community programs throughout the year. Whether a visitor is a seasoned collector, a hobbyist, or someone who has never picked up a carving tool, the Expo delivers a weekend of genuine discovery and inspiration.
The 2026 Expo serves as the official launch event for RVWC’s Holiday Ornament Program — one of the most personal and meaningful community initiatives in the Greater Cincinnati region. Each year, club members set aside their own time and materials to hand-carve approximately 200 individual holiday ornaments. No two are exactly alike. Each one is shaped, detailed, and finished by hand — a small but deeply human act of giving.
Every December, those ornaments are delivered free of charge to children in inner-city schools and children living in foster care in Northern Kentucky, and young adults in with disabilities working in Indiana ensuring that kids who might otherwise go without receive something beautiful, handmade, and entirely their own during the Christmas season.
Visitors to the Expo will also find hand-carved Christmas ornaments available for purchase — each one a unique, handmade keepsake. It is a way for club members to participate — a hand-carved ornament carried to a child who needs it most for the holiday.
The River Valley Wood Carvers, based in Taylor Mill, have recently launched Hearts for Hope, a new outreach program in which club members hand-carve decorative wooden hearts, with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. The program grew out of the club’s connection to the Teal Run, a Greater Cincinnati event dedicated to raising awareness and funds in the fight against ovarian cancer.
Club associate Jessica Gilbert — herself an ovarian cancer survivor — introduced the River Valley Wood Carvers to the Teal Run organization. The club now participates in the Teal Run by displaying and selling Hearts for Hope carvings at the event, using that platform to both support cancer research and promote the upcoming Ohio Valley Woodcarvers Expo.
The River Valley Wood Carvers are passionate not just about practicing their craft, but about passing it on. Beginning in September — just weeks before the 2026 Expo — club members will take their tools into classrooms and 4-H programs, teaching school-age children the fundamentals of wood carving in a hands-on, mentored environment.
The program pairs experienced carvers with young students, introducing them to safety, technique, and the patience required to transform a simple block of wood into something beautiful. For many children, it will be their first encounter with a traditional American folk art form that has been practiced for generations.