ABANA’s 50th Anniversary Celebration & Conference
June 6-9, 2024 • Johnstown, Pennsylvania
We are pleased to announce that we will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary June 6-9, 2024, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
The event will feature:
- Top-notch demonstrators
- A team forging competition
- Hands-on educational opportunities
- Food, festivities, and more!
We are working on the details for the ABANA Conference and will update this page as new information becomes available. Hope to see you there!
The 2024 lineup brings back some of your favorites as well as a few new names for you to discover. From blades to sculpture and traditional forging to the ABANA National Curriculum, there’s something for everyone!
The Ring Project is back! Blacksmith artists, fabricators, and metal sculptors from around the world are invited to submit a forged 10″ ring with imagery inspired by the list of themes to represent the location of the ABANA 50th Anniversary Celebration & Conference.
One of the highlights of the ABANA 50-Year Anniversary Celebration will be the Team Forging Competition in Johnstown’s Central Park. If you might be interested in competing, let us know and we’ll keep you up to date on competition info.
We’re inviting everyone to show off your best creations in the gallery of ironwork – Traditional techniques, contemporary ironwork, sculpture, architectural forgings, repousse, and more!
There will be many volunteer opportunities available at the 50-Year Anniversary Celebration and we’d love your help! Join our email list for prospective volunteers and we’ll contact you in the future with available opportunities.
We’re looking for craft classes and family activities to add to the festivities at our 50th Anniversary Celebration & Conference, June of 2024 in Johnstown, PA. Submit an interest form to be considered.
Johnstown is conveniently located 65 miles East of Pittsburgh and offers daily arrivals via plane or train. In addition, there are several other regional airports offering non-stop service from larger cities such as Chicago and Washington, DC.
The Johnstown area offers different types of accommodations for visitors with any kind of budget. Choose from camping, hotels, and more. This year accommodations are up to the attendees to arrange, so be sure to book early.
Located in the Laurel Mountains of Pennsylvania, Johnstown has a colorful history as a booming steel town in the 1800s. Johnstown is host to major regional festivals and events which draw thousands of attendees.
More information about the ABANA Conference will be added as it becomes available.
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