Events

September CFHS Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, September 8th, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

We will hold a hybrid meeting. You may join us in person at The Museum of the Ironworker or on Zoom where you can join via computer or telephone. If you experience any issues, please call 240-288-7396 and we will help you register.

After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with meeting details. You only need to register once, and you’ll stay registered through January 2027. The email will include a Zoom link you can add to your calendar to join the meeting every second Tuesday of the month. This format avoids sending a new link each month.

Fallfest

Friday & Saturday, October 9th & 10th, 10am to 4pm

For 61 years, northern Frederick County has shared the glorious autumn colors of its mountains with visitors.  Fallfest includes apple butter boiling in a copper kettle over an open fire, blacksmithing, food, and crafts.  Tour historic buildings including the Museum of the Ironworker. (FREE)

Apple butter boiling begins early in the morning and the first batch of apple butter is available for purchase sometime in the afternoon of the first day. Please come and join us for the day to learn about the apple butter making process, crafts and more!

Spirits of the Furnace

Saturday, October 17th, 2026

Spirits of the Furnace is a guided night tour through the historic Catoctin Iron Furnace and Village, with stops in historic structures and along the landscape to meet workers, owners, worshipers, and slaves.  Seasonal refreshments included.  Kids are welcome.  Bring a flashlight and wear shoes appropriate for walking on uneven terrain.

(Reservations Required, $) Tickets release in September 

Theater in the Furnace

A Revolutionary Christmas: In coordination with Frederick County’s U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission

Friday to Sunday, December 3rd to the 6th, 2026

Thursday, December 3 at 7 PM
Friday, December 4 at 7 PM
Saturday, December 5 at 3 PM & 7 PM
Sunday, December 6 at 3 PM

(Reservations Required, $) Tickets release in the fall.

On a small Grman farm in Frederick County, Franz Kober and his widowed daughter-in-law, Glenda—as well as her two children, Johann and Fiona—are anxiously awaiting the return of Franz’s youngest son, Richard, who has been fighting with the German Regiment of the Continental Army.

When Richard arrives with an escaped “Hessian” soldier, the family is at odds about what to do with the prisoner-of-war. Grateful for the chance to spend Christmas Eve with his reluctant hosts, Jäger Peter Morsberger becomes the catalyst to confront their disappointments—and their hopes—while he helps them rediscover the true spirit of Christmas.

Traditional Village Christmas

Saturday December 5th

Decorate a fresh wreath with bows, balls, bells, pinecones, holly, icicles, and ornaments! (Wreath proceeds support CFHS, $) Select unique handmade gifts for the holidays.

Enjoy food, hot mulled wine, apple cider, and heirloom-recipe baked goods.  Watch a blacksmith craft gifts and tools. Children can make a punched or painted tin holiday ornament and have their photograph taken 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. (Admission is FREE)   

2027 Maryland Iron Festival

Saturday and Sunday, May 15th & 16th, 2027
Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm 

Celebrate our region’s history as an early center for iron making at this festival featuring an iron pour; blacksmithing demonstrations; hands-on casting and molding demonstrations by experts from Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site; guided tours of the historic village by costumed interpreters; a beer and wine garden; plein air artists; delicious historic foods; a wide variety of iron and metalwork arts, crafts, and jewelry; live period music; whimsical cannonball tosses and anvil-lifting contests; children’s activities; make it/take it opportunities, and more!  Partner events in surrounding parks and towns—including exhibits in the Museum of the Ironworker (featuring historic clothing discovered during archeological investigations at the Forgeman’s House and two forensic facial reconstructions of enslaved ironworkers), guided tours of the charcoal trail in nearby Catoctin Mountain National Park, and a commemoration of the role of Africans in ironmaking at Catoctin. (FREE)

Please Note: Each year this event has a road closure and all visitors park offsite. Park a the Manor Parking Lot located at 6709 Cunningham Falls Park Rd Thurmont, MD 21788 and take the accessible, free shuttle to the event or walk the trail.