2019

2019 Blacksmiths Festival: Our Largest Yet

The 2019 Blacksmiths Festival was our biggest event to date, attracting 3,500 attendees and spanning a full week of activities from Saturday, April 20th to Sunday, April 27th. Compared to the 2017 festival, several key additions and improvements made this edition truly special.

Major Highlights

Sculptural masterclass & large forging tent

A major feature of the festival was the introduction of an extra-large forging tent, which hosted a four-day sculptural masterclass. Led by renowned Canadian blacksmith Jake James, the masterclass involved 12 blacksmiths and was supported by three leading Australian blacksmiths:

The result of this collaboration was the stunning sculpture "Many Hands," now on display in the studio.

Women’s workshop

As part of pre-festival fundraising efforts, the festival hosted a sellout women’s workshop led by Elizabeth Belz (USA). This special event provided a unique opportunity for women to engage in the craft.

Live music performances

Music played a vibrant role in the festival, with an eclectic mix of performances:

  • Shiraz – A six-piece traditional jazz band

  • Snackthoughts – A local westside band blending Electronica and Jazz

  • Babaganoush – A five-piece group delivering high-energy Balkan beats, including an incredible rendition of Titi Robin’s “Mehdi”

Expanded public forging sessions

The festival significantly expanded its general forging experiences, offering over 60 "taster" sessions to the public, allowing more people to get hands-on with blacksmithing.

"Kid-Smith" cold forging area

A new addition this year was the "Kid-Smith" cold forging area, which proved to be a festival favorite. Made possible with support from Bendigo Bank Seddon, children had the chance to experience blacksmithing in a safe and engaging environment.

Blacksmiths dinner & PechaKucha presentations

The festival also hosted a special Blacksmiths Dinner at The Plough Hotel, attended by 60 guests. The evening featured PechaKucha-style slide presentations from various blacksmiths, adding an educational and social component to the event.

We are grateful for the many community volunteers and supporters who made the event possible and particularly acknowledge the generous support of the Maribyrnong City Council through their Festival Grants Program.