James Black Bowie Knife Festival This Weekend in Arkansas

The historic town of Washington, Arkansas, will come alive this weekend with clanging hammers and sparks from forged steel, it's the 4th Annual James Black Bowie Heritage Festival, a celebration of one of the most iconic blades in American history and the man who made, James Black.

This year’s event is bigger than ever, featuring renowned bladesmiths and celebrity personalities from the hit TV series Forged in Fire. Among the highlights are appearances and live demonstrations by Doug Marcaida, martial arts specialist and “It will KEAL” judge, and Ricardo Vilar, a master bladesmith and popular competitor from the show.

See Master Bladesmiths:

• Jerry Fisk
• Lin Rhea
• JR Cook
• Tim Foster

Wait, There's More:

• Actor, stunt actor, and weapons master Anthony De Longis.
• Bladed weapons thrower JW Wiseman.
• Arkansas Living Treasure winner Stephen Driver.

Festival Schedule Highlights

Friday, April 25

• 9:00 AM – Grand Opening and Knife Show Ribbon Cutting at the WPA Gym
• 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Ongoing events:
• Knife Show featuring 28 of the top bladesmiths in the country
• Live Forging Demos by students from the James Black School of Bladesmithing
• Historic Knife Exhibit at the 1874 Courthouse
• Craft vendors and traditional heritage demonstrations
• Kids’ Corner with pioneer games and free wooden Bowie knives
• Food vendors along Morrison Street

Saturday, April 26

• 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – All Friday events continue
• 10:00 AM – Quick Forging Challenge at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion
• 11:00 AM – KEAL Knife Demo with Doug Marcaida & Ricardo Vilar
• 12:00 PM – Arkansas Living Treasure Award Presentation
• 2:00 PM – James Black State Cutting Competition Championship
• 4:00 PM – Southwest Arkansas Taekwondo Demonstration on Carroll Street

Extras for the Whole Family:

• Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun Range
• Heritage-themed crafts
• Knife vendors and custom gear

Admission is free, but you do have to pay for parking, just $6 per vehicle. Whether you're a history buff, knife enthusiast, or just looking for a fun weekend outing, the James Black Bowie Heritage Festival offers a cutting-edge experience you won’t want to miss.

Get more details, specific times for events and updates, visit bowieknifefest.com.