15 Must-Attend Blacksmithing Competitions and Events Around the World
Blacksmithing is an ancient craft that has been around for centuries, and it continues to captivate people today. Whether you’re a seasoned blacksmith or just starting out, attending competitions and events can be a great way to learn new techniques, connect with other blacksmiths, and showcase your skills. In this post, we’ll take a look at 15 of the top blacksmithing competitions and events around the world.
1. ABANA Conference: The Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America (ABANA) hosts an annual conference that brings together blacksmiths from all over the world. This event features workshops, demonstrations, lectures, and more.
2. International Blacksmith Festival: Held in Stia, Italy every two years since 1996, this festival attracts hundreds of blacksmiths from around the globe who come to demonstrate their skills and compete in various categories.
3. Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair: This three-day event held annually in Asheville, NC includes classes on forging tools specifically for fiber processing as well as creating hooks & hardware used in fiber arts like weaving & knitting.
4. New England Blacksmiths Fall Meet: A gathering of New England-based smiths showcasing their work along with contests such as “Hammer Throw” which tests accuracy using sledgehammers & other striking tools
5. Prairieland Herbfest: Held annually near Champaign-Urbana Illinois where vendors sell plants & supplies related to herbalism while blackmith’s create custom garden implements right there during the festival weekend!
6. Appalachian Area Chapter Spring Fling Hammer-In: Hosted by members of the AACB (Appalachian Area Chapter of Blacksmiths), this event offers several days worth of hands-on instruction led by experienced smiths.
7. California Blacksmith Association Spring Conference: Each year CBA puts on a spring conference featuring guest instructors teaching topics ranging from basic forging techniques to advanced metallurgy.
8. Blacksmiths Association of Missouri Conference: This annual event features demo’s and classes on a variety of topics including tool making, blade forging, and traditional joinery techniques.
9. National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association Conference: N.O.M.M.A hosts an annual conference that brings together ornamental metalworkers from around the world. The event includes workshops, lectures, and showcases some of the best work in the industry.
10. CBA Spring Fling Hammer-In: Hosted by members of the California Blacksmith Association (CBA), this event offers several days worth of hands-on instruction led by experienced smiths who are eager to share their knowledge with others.
11. New Jersey Blacksmiths Association Annual Meeting & Picnic: Each year NJBA holds a meeting where blacksmiths can come together for demonstrations, competitions & fellowship which is followed by a picnic where everyone shares food they’ve cooked over open fires!
12. Rocky Mountain Smiths Fall Symposium: Held annually in Colorado Springs CO ,this symposium is hosted each year by local chapter RMSAB (Rocky Mountain Smiths) featuring demos from professional smiths along with plenty of opportunities for attendees to get hands-on experience with forging tools under guidance from experienced instructors
13. Artist-Blacksmithing Guild Of North America Annual Conference: ABANA’s west coast counterpart ABGNA hosts an annual conference that features workshops and demonstrations focused on artistic blacksmithing techniques such as sculptural ironwork or casting bronze using sand molds.
14. British Artist Blacksmith Association International Festival: This biennial festival takes place at various sites throughout Britain and showcases some of the best work being done in contemporary blacksmithing today.
15. Northwest Blacksmith Association Spring Conference And Swap Meet : Taking place annually in Longview WA, this 3 day event includes live demos covering everything from basic skills to advanced knife-making as well as opportunities for attendees to buy and sell tools & materials.
In conclusion, there are plenty of opportunities for blacksmiths to learn new skills, connect with other smiths, and showcase their work. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out in the field of blacksmithing, attending one of these events can be a great way to improve your skills and gain inspiration from others in the industry.