Maryland Iron Festival at Catoctin Furnace

May 17-18, 2025 | Free Admission

Celebrate Frederick County's history as an early center for iron making at this festival in the historic village of Catoctin Furnace. The Maryland Iron Festival is hosted by the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society and features blacksmithing demonstrations, live music, vendors, and food trucks.

This FREE festival will also include a maker's market, guided garden and trail tours, a plein air art show, archeology presentations, and a live iron pour.

Festival Hours:

Saturday 10AM to 6PM

Sunday 10AM to 4PM

A Note On Accessibility:

The structures are close together with unpaved trails and grass surfaces surrounding the majority of the buildings. The Museum of the Ironworker is ADA accessible. A portable ramp to the Collier’s Log House is available for access.

The African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail is ADA compliant; however, certain access points are not. If you have questions or concerns please call 240-288-7396 or email info@catoctinfurnace.org to discuss prior to your visit.

Full Festival Information

Parking Information

Festival goers must park at the Manor Area of Cunningham Falls State Park

Address: 6709 Cunningham Falls Park Road, Thurmont, MD 21788

Park rangers will direct visitors to the parking lots.

Use shuttle service, ADA and wheelchair compliant, (running on a loop from the Manor Parking Lot to and from the Furnace Green) or hike the Iron Trail (1/4 mile and 40 steep steps over Route 15) to access the festival.