The tenth annual Fire on the Mountain Blacksmithing Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, on Main Street in Spruce Pine in Mitchell County. Each year, the event draws thousands of visitors to celebrate the art of blacksmithing that has played such an integral role in the county’s history.
In 2007, a small local festival called “Hammerin’ on the Toe” officially became known as “Fire on the Mountain,” a celebration of both the history and the art of blacksmithing in Western North Carolina. It has grown to be one of the largest blacksmith events on the east coast.
Festival attendees will find a variety of blacksmiths and tool vendors displaying and selling their work, with many booths featuring live demonstrations. At the Hands on Tent, sponsored by Penland School of Crafts, people of all ages can try their hand at the art of blacksmithing, with the assistance of an experienced blacksmith.
This year’s event features demonstrations by Paige Davis, Gary Noffke, and 2016 Master Blacksmith Jay Burnham-Kidwell. The second annual forging contest will be a ”Snake-Off” competition, where participants will be given a rod of iron, one hour, and minimal tools to create their best snake. Also, stop by the Bardhouse, where you can hear spoken word poetry about blacksmithing.
In conjunction with the festival, Toe River Arts Council is presenting an exhibit of works from blacksmiths from the Southeast and beyond. Also, Twisted Laurel Gallery in downtown Spruce Pine is hosting East-West: Men and Women in Iron, a juried show curated by Jay Burnham-Kidwell and running April 27 through May 7.
There will also be a Master Blacksmith Demonstration Workshop on Friday, April 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (for details, contact Stacey Lane at staceylane@penland.org) and a free lecture by Jay Burnham-Kidwell at the Penland Campus at 8 p.m. the day of the event. Admission to the festival is free to the public.
For more information, visit downtownsprucepine.com or call 828.765.3008.
