Thank you for joining us for the 2026 Maryland Iron Festival

Please join us next year on May 15th & 17th 2027

More information coming in the new year! Feel free to explore the pas 2026 event below.

The rest, as they say, is history.

At the 8^th Annual Maryland Iron Festival, you’ll find great food, from barbeque and fries to snowballs and schnitzel, not to mention a surprising connection to American history.

Within months of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Catoctin Furnace began producing iron tools, stoves and other household items. But in 1781, as George Washington’s army pursued General Cornwallis through Virginia, Catoctin Furnace began making cannons and ammunition for a ship fighting for the Americans.

Today Catoctin Furnace remains much as it was during its heyday in the 19^th century. The stone iron furnace still stands on the edge of the village green. Original ironworker cottages line the two-lane road that runs through the village. But on May 16th and 17th, the village will have live music, kids’ games and crafts, a beer and wine garden, and exciting entertainment.

Come Hungry

As you stroll through the village, you can tour the Collier’s Log House and a stone ironworker’s house that is now the Museum of the Ironworker. Kids can play historic games outside the log house or make a ball and cup game to take home.

Next stop is the historic Fraley Store where you can pay a visit to Belsnickel’s Toy Shop for penny candy and old-fashioned toys. There will be live puppet shows, blacksmithing demonstrations, and local crafters and artisans selling their wares on the furnace green.

The undisputed highlight of the iron festival is the 2,800-degree molten iron pour at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Watch as modern day ironworkers pour molten metal into molds for iron tiles. You can carve your own scratch block in advance and take home an original iron tile at the festival. Scratch blocks may be purchased below and picked up on May 2,3, 9 or 10 at the Museum of the Ironworker.

Stay Late

Last year was the first for the Catoctin Furnace Outdoor Theater Festival. This year it will take place the same weekend as the iron festival. Starting Thursday evening, May 14^th through Sunday May 17^th, the original play Iron Will will be performed live throughout the village. The audience will walk from scene to scene as the story of enslaved and free ironworkers during the revolution unfolds onstage. Tickets for Iron Will are $25 and must be purchased separately at catoctinfurnace.org/theater. The Maryland Iron Festival is free. If you decide to stay for both, food vendors will be on hand to purchase dinner before the play.

Traffic and Parking Restrictions

The road that runs through Catoctin Furnace will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. Free parking and a shuttle are available at Cunningham Falls State Park–Manor Area off Route 15. You can also safely reach the festival on foot from the lower parking lot at the park. Parking directions are at the bottom of the page. 

FAQ’s

Are dogs allowed?

• Yes! Dogs are more than welcome on the grounds as long as they are on a leash at all times and properly picked up after during Maryland Festival hours. We will have water stations throughout the event to keep our furry friends comfortable. However, they are not allowed to go into the museum or historic buildings.
• The Maryland Iron Festival is a non-ticketed event and dogs are permitted onsite during festival hours. However, during evening performances of Iron Will (a separate, ticketed event) dogs are not allowed to attend. Information about Iron Will and ticket sales is available on its dedicated page. 

Can I attend in costume?

• We ask that visitors who are not associated with the historical society and/or are not a performer at the event do not dress in period costume.

Is the event accessible for mobility needs?

• Yes, MIF is accessible with a complimentary shuttle operating between the parking area and the festival is mobility friendly and wheelchair accessible. Vehicles of all types are prohibited from entering the village during the festival for the safety of our visitors; therefore, all visitors are required to take the shuttle. Please see parking information below. 
• The structures in the village are close together with unpaved trails and grass surfaces surrounding the majority of the buildings. The Museum of the Ironworker is ADA accessible. The F.W. Fraley Store is open and under ongoing restoration updates. It is open tot he public but has steps at the entrance-we are exploring access options. There is a portable ramp to the Collier’s Log House. The Furnace Green is a grassy area. The African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail is not compliant. The road through the village will also be closed so you will be able to use the paved road for smooth transportation between the festival areas. If you have questions please call 240-288-7396 or fill out the “Contact Us” form to get in touch with us.

Full event map coming soon

FURNACE GREEN
MIF Shuttle stop (drop off & pickup)
Welcome Tent (stop by for festival information!)
Makers’ Market
Food Trucks
Beer and Wine Garden (21+ only)
Music
Historic Weapon Demonstrations by The Maryland Mattrosses of 1776 (Sun ONLY, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM. 3:00 PM) 

MANOR RUINS
Tours of Stabilization Project by Dominion Traditional Building Group masonry team

F. W. FRALEY GENERAL STORE 
Toy. Candy and Gift Shop

GRAVEL AREA NEXT TO THE F. W. FRALEY GENERAL STORE 
Iron Pour (Sat ONLY, expected to occur at 1pm)

COLLIER’S LOG HOUSE/KITCHEN GARDEN
Weaving demonstrations 
Kids’ Zone (Games and activities)
CFHS Bake Sale
Music 
Green-walled Garden Club Plant Talks (Sat, 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM)

MUSEUM OF THE IRONWORKER
Information and Exhibitions
Blacksmithing demonstrations
Exhibition Tables
Tatting demonstrations by Frederick Frivolite
First aid

HARRIET CHAPEL AREA
Children’s Activities
Food
Tours of Historic Harriet Chapel

Shop Local Handmade Gifts During the Festival Weekend

While you’re enjoying The Maryland Iron Festival, don’t forget to stop by our on-site Maker’s Market featuring a wonderful selection of local handmade gifts. Discover unique items crafted by talented local artisans—perfect for finding a special keepsake or a thoughtful gift.

From handcrafted décor and jewelry to artisan goods and one-of-a-kind creations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. By shopping the market, you’re supporting local makers and helping celebrate the creativity of our community.

KCM Leather 

Foxcross Pottery

Bent Wrapped and Hammered

Lone Leaf Jewels

Marilyn Smith (Quilted and hand turned wood items)

Colorful Connections LLC

Mole in the Ground Stained Glass

Woods Creek Brooms

Stitches and Wicks

Tide Wrangler Boutique

Iron•Wood•Light

Be sure to browse the vendor booths during the festival weekend and take home something truly special!

Scratch block directions pdf

Festival Parking, Road Closure and Accessibility

Due to high foot traffic in the village, MD Rt. 806 will be CLOSED from Kellys Store Road to Blacks Mill Road during the entirety of the festival. All visitors are required to park in the Manor Area parking lot at Cunningham Falls State Park. You are not permitted to drive into the festival area. 

Visitors can either walk the quarter-mile trail to the festival site or take the free shuttle to the festival. The Maryland Iron Festival shuttle will run continuously between the festival and the parking lot (about every 15 to 20 minutes). Once boarded, it is about a five minute ride between the parking lot and the festival area. The shuttle is mobility-friendly and equipped with a wheelchair lift.

If you have any questions, send us a message by clicking here.

General Parking Instructions

Free Parking: Due to the road closure drivers are required to park at the Manor Area parking lot (6179 Cunningham Falls Park Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788) at Cunningham Falls State Park, which is free of charge. 

Unaffiliated Tour Bus Group Drop-Offs and Pick-Ups

Unaffiliated Bus & Shuttle Parking: Festival-goers arriving by bus (mini & large) must drop and pick up their party at the Victory Tabernacle parking lot (6710 Kellys Store Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788). From there it is a short, flat walk to the festival.

If your guests have concerns about the walk you must get in touch with us prior to first day of the festival. 

Interact with us on social media

#MarylandIronFestival #MIF #IronFestival #CFHS #CatoctinFurnaceHistoricalSociety 

Thank you to our sponsors