MARIBYRNONG’S red-hot run of festivals forges ahead this weekend with the inaugural International Blacksmith’s Festival.
Blacksmiths from Belgium, Germany, New Zealand and Australia will come together in Footscray over two days to showcase the ancient craft.
The festival will have demonstrations of metal forging, power hammering and blacksmith striking, to a backdrop of European sausages, waffles, Belgian craft beers, and music by gypsy band Babaganoush and roving accordion-singing duo the Gumboot Brothers.
Centrepiece will be the forging of a chain link sculpture by participants.
Other highlights include metal sculptures by local artists, roving entertainment and face painting.
For those who fancy a foray into the blacksmithing craft, there will be a temporary tool shop featuring anvils, hammers, tongs and other specialist imported equipment. The festival is at Waterside Forge, near the corner of Bunbury and Maribyrnong streets, from 10am-5pm, Saturday, and 10am-4pm, Sunday.
More details: watersidemetalart.org
