Want to stay up to date on CFHS news and upcoming event information? Join our newsletter and be the first to know about ticketed events and activities during our annual festivals!
Tuesday
June 10th
June CFHS Meeting
Tuesday, June 10th, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
By tradition we do not hold an August meeting.
We will hold a hybrid meeting. You may join us in person at The Museum of the Ironworker or on Zoom.
Monthly meetings will require participants to register in advance. You may join us in person at the Museum of the Ironworker or on Zoom. If you plan to join us via Zoom, you can join on your computer or telephone.
If you experience any issues, please call 240-288-7396 and we will help you register.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Friday
June 13th
Music at the Museum
Friday, June 13th, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Bring your own picnic or snacks and listen to great music from the Hot Furnace Band! Music will be playing from 6-9pm behind the Museum of the Ironworker. While there is no set admission fee, we ask that you pay what you can to support the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society.
Thursday
June 19th
Juneteenth Commemoration
Thursday, June 19th, 6:00 p.m.
Juneteenth at Catoctin Furnace is more than a holiday. The day stands as a testament to and celebration of the unyielding spirit of a people. It is a day for introspection, a platform for education, and a tribute to the monumental contributions of African Americans to the history of Catoctin Furnace, Frederick County, the state of Maryland, and this nation.
By commemorating Juneteenth, we foster connections, healing, and revitalization. And we pay tribute to the ongoing fight for social justice and racial equity. We pay homage to the more than 271 skilled, enslaved ironworkers who toiled at Catoctin Furnace from the time of the American Revolution until the 1840s. Say their names and remember them.
The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc. with its Museum of the Ironworker, African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail, Isabella Furnace ruins and casting shed, Log Collier’s House, Forgeman’s House, Carty-Miller House, Hoke House, and restored Fraley Store, and Ironmasters Mansion is a vibrant community where the hope and resilience inspired by Juneteenth lives on—a space where historical events like Juneteenth are shared. A space where history is made, and new stories are told.
The remembrance ceremony, held in conjunction with the Thurmont Lions Club, Scouting America, and Harriet Chapel will help connect individuals with a deeper understanding of the African American story at Catoctin Furnace. Join us as the names of the enslaved are read and wreaths are placed in commemoration.
Friday & Saturday
July 4th & 5th
Fourth at the Furnace
Friday – Saturday, July 4th & 5th, 10:00 am. to 4:00 pm.
Celebrate an old fashioned July 4th at Catoctin Furnace! Enjoy blacksmithing, children’s activities, tours of the Museum of the Ironworker and the Collier’s Log House, Isabella Furnace ruins and casting shed, and the African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail.
Thursday - Sunday
September 11th-14th
Catoctin Furnace Living History Festival
Immerse yourself in the story of the Revolutionary War Era community at Catoctin
Furnace in a race against time to cast shells for the decisive battle of Yorktown!
Thursday – Sunday, September 11th-14th
Thursday, September 11 @ 8:00pm (Pay-what-you-can Preview)
Friday, September 12 @ 8:00pm (Opening)
Saturday, September 13 @ 12:00pm, 4:00pm, 8:00pm
Sunday, September 14 @ 12:00pm, 4:00pm (Closing)
For more information visit this page closer to the performance dates or email [email protected]
Friday - Sunday
October 10th & 11th
Fallfest
Friday – Saturday, October 10th-11th
Join us for Fall Fest, a two-day event celebrating the tradition of apple butter making in the historic Catoctin Furnace village! Enjoy demonstrations by blacksmiths and craft vendors.
Saturday
December 6th
Traditional Village Christmas
December 6th, 10:00 am. to 4:00 pm.
Please join us on December 6th for our fourteenth annual Traditional Village Christmas event!
Traditional Village Christmas is an outdoor, European style Holiday market. Decorate a fresh wreath with bows, balls, bells, pinecones, holly, icicles and ornaments or let our volunteers do it for you! Select unique handmade gifts for the holidays. Watch a blacksmith at work!
Enjoy hot apple cider and heirloom-recipe baked goods. Children can make a craft and enjoy a visit with Belsnickel. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Christmas in Catoctin Furnace included a visit from Belsnickel to the homes of German immigrants. During this visit, which took place two weeks before Christmas, Belsnickel rewarded good children with treats but carried a switch to punish naughty ones.
We hope to see you there! Information for pre-ordering wreaths & roping will be updated as the event approaches.
Saturday
December 13th
Museums by Candlelight
Saturday, December 13th, times TBD
A beloved holiday tradition, Museums by Candlelight invites you to enjoy a magical December Saturday filled with special programs, living history, festive music, and FREE admission at participating museums. It’s the perfect event for a memorable holiday outing with the whole family!
Use the Museums by Candlelight Event Guide to explore all the details and plan your day discovering the rich history and vibrant culture of our communities.
Saturday & Sunday
May 16th & 17th
2026 Maryland Iron Festival
Saturday & Sunday, May 16th and 17th, 2026
More event information coming soon.
Vendor & Performer Applications Open January 1, 2026
Planning for the next Maryland Iron Festival is underway! Applications for vendors and performers—both returning and new—will open on January 1, 2026. If you’re interested in being part of the festival, please complete the application form to express your interest.
We look forward to hearing from you!
