The ABANA anvil logo with a gold and black banner proclaiming 50 years of forging ahead.

50th Anniversary Celebration & Blacksmithing Conference

Johnstown, PA  •  June 6-9, 2024

Central Park

Events in Central Park are Free and Open to the Public

Food Vendors

June 6, 7 & 8 at 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Lizzie’s Wagon will be serving breakfast items, steak sandwiches, chicken strips, and fresh-cut fries.

Kid’s “Forging” Tent

June 6, 7, & 8 from 9am – noon & 2pm – 5pm

The Forging Industry Educational and Research Foundation will be in Central Park showing kids how hot metal moves with each hammer blow via a clay “forging” activity. The first 100 kids to participate will receive a goody bag.

International Team Forging Competition

June 6 & 7: Teams compete from 8am – noon & 1pm – 5pm

June 8: Teams compete 8am – noon & Finished work on display 

Come hang out in Central Park and watch the Team Forging Competition! Watch as amateur and professional blacksmiths vie for bragging rights and cash prizes. All items forged during the competition will be available for purchase in the Art Auction on Saturday, June 8th.

Also cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award while the pieces are on display June 8th!

The Ring Project Assembly

June 6 & 7: Ring Project Assembly

June 8: Ring Project on Display 

Blacksmiths from all over the world have been busy making a 10-inch forged ring that represents the Johnstown area. We will gather those individual rings in Central Park for the public to view. During our multi-day event, around 10-12 rings will be selected to be assembled into a larger, collaborative project. The final Ring Project will be available at the auction for a private buyer or company to acquire. Individual rings not selected will also be available at the Art Auction on Saturday, June 8th.

“Friendship” ring by Luc Vandecasteele

Brass Foundry Demo

June 7 at Noon to 5 p.m.

Demonstrator Bob Pickens will demonstrate casting with brass. Bob will cast a miniature anvil which will be available to bid on in the Art Auction on Saturday night. Chris Holt will narrate and answer questions for spectators.

Live Music with Silver Screen

June 7 at 6 – 9 p.m.

Silver Screen, voted Favorite Local Band at the 2023 “Best of Johnstown” Awards, will play at Central Park as part of First Friday hosted by the Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership.

Additional Activities Near Central Park

Events are Free (unless otherwise noted) and Open to the Public

Roman Fire Basket by Tony Alexander

Gallery of Ironwork Exhibition

Made in Johnstown, 507 Main Street

June 7 from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. with Artist Reception at 7 – 9 p.m.

June 8 from 9 a.m. – Noon

You’ll be able to see tools of the trade, examples of traditional blacksmithing, sculptural work, furniture, plus individual and collaborative designs. It is amazing what heat and a hammer can do! (Select pieces will also be for sale.)

Johnstown Ring by Scott Kretschmer

Art Auction

June 8 starting at 7 p.m.

The State Theater of Johnstown, 336 Main Street, Johnstown, PA

Join us Saturday, June 8 at 7 p.m. for the long-awaited art auction. One of the key pieces up for auction will be the Ring Sculpture – a Johnstown-themed collaborative piece assembled live in Central Park in the preceding days. Other auction items will include pieces made during the Team Forging Competition, items created during the various blacksmithing demonstrations, one of the world-famous “BAM Boxes” by Pat McCarty, as well as a variety of other items.

BAM Box Example by Pat McCarty

Peoples Natural Gas Park

Activities in Peoples Natural Park Require an Event Ticket

Pre-Registration has ended! Single-day tickets ($85) and Full-Event tickets ($225)  are available at the gate.

Tickets for Peoples Natural Gas Park include entry into the park with access to:

  • Blacksmith Demonstrations at Peoples Natural Gas Park
  • Power Hammer Forging Demonstrations at the Center For Metal Arts
  • Hands-on Beginner Forging Tent (First time? No problem!)
  • Chance to buy raffle tickets for both the Iron-in-the-Hat Raffle & the Big Tool Raffle (Thousand$ in prizes!)
  • Event Vendors selling tools, crafts, books, equipment, and more!

Tour of the Center for Metal Arts

Location: 106 Iron Street, Johnstown, PA

Event registrants are invited for a tour of the Center for Metal Arts. Patrick Quinn will speak briefly about the history of CMA and then attendees will have a full shop tour that includes the historic industrial forge shop.

Tailgating

Just outside Peoples Natural Gas Park

Searching for a great deal or that hard-to-find item for your shop?

Bring some cash and check out the tailgating just outside Peoples Natural Gas Park. Tools, material, and so much more.

Food Vendors

at Peoples Natural Gas Park

Food vendors will be at Peoples Natural Gas Park offering the best flavors Johnstown has to offer.