Workshops and demonstrations at the Festival of Combustion offer a chance for folks to get a closer look at the action and even make something of their own to take home that day. Whether your interest is artistic or industrial, each of the following activities reflect the type of creative hard work that built America and enables visitors to enjoy an authentic, site-based experience. All workshops are appropriate for both kids and adults alike.
Heritage Craft Tent – New this year!
1:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Sparks, Hammers and Flames! New to the festival this year, The Heritage Craft Tent presented by Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey is not to be missed. This mini festival within a festival highlights the tastiest of all heritage crafts, rye whiskey distilling! Check out tastings for the adults along with live art with Touchstone Center for Crafts and interactive kids activities with The Bradford House Historical Association. Local musician Alex Brown will provide some traditional Appalachian music throughout the day along with blaksmith demonstrations by Glen Gardner, Artifact Metalworks, LLC and more!
Iron Scratch-mold Workshop
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
The most popular experience at the Festival of Combustion is no doubt the scratch-mold workshop. Choose from a range of mold sizes and shapes to carve your own design and have it cast forever in solid iron! Supplies of scratch-molds will be staggered throughout the day to avoid congestion.
COST = Scratch-mold workshops are included in the cost of admission but these go fast so get them while they’re hot!
Mini Weaving with Contemporary Craft – New this Year!
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Make your own mini weaving on a laser-cut loom that you can take with you! Using yarn, thread, fabric stips, and anything else you can find, artists from Contemporary Craft will help spark your interest in weaving, and may even turn into a combustible passion!
2019 Festival Favorite! – Fiestaware Mosaics Workshop
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Led by local mosaic artist Amy Burke, this workshop is an exciting chance to create something fun and colorful using shaped and broken pieces of Fiestaware plates. Choose from over a dozen different colors and learn the traditional process of mosaic mounted on raw slate. Julian Schnabel’s got nothing on us!
COST = Mosaic workshops are included with the price of admission.
Raku Ceramic Workshops
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Back by popular demand, raku ceramic workshops are led by Millvale’s Ton Pottery. Festival-goers can glaze a vase or other ceramic object, have it fired in an outdoor raku-style furnace right before your eyes, and take the final product home that day!
COST = Raku items are included with the cost of admission.
Glass Ornament Workshops
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Designed specifically for the little-ones, these workshops are included with the price of admission and the perfect way to get expressive in a hurry. Representatives from Pittsburgh Glass Center will work with you to design and create a delicate glass ornament or magnate using different pieces of colored glass.
COST = FREE
Hot Crayon Encaustic Workshops
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Hot crayon encaustic workshops are also included with the price of admission and allow participants to create unique and colorful paintings on wood panel using melted crayons. Drip, smear, carve or dab different colors together to make your own design.
COST = FREE
Iron Casting Demonstrations
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Molten iron returns to the Carrie Furnaces! Watch Rivers of Steel’s Metal Arts crew cast iron all day and carve a scratch-mold and get in on the action. And stick around for a fiery performance iron pour in the Western Courtyard from 6 – 8:00 p.m.!
Welding Demonstrations
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
The festival showcases both MIG and TIG welding demonstrations featuring local artists and tradesmen throughout the day.
Glass Blowing Demonstrations
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh was not only well known as the “Iron City,” it was also a huge hub for glassmaking throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Watch artists from the Pittsburgh Glass Center display the magic of glassblowing throughout the day.
Blacksmith Demonstrations
1:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Blacksmiths and knifesmiths will be on site throughout the day showcasing their skills in this historic trade. Featured demonstrators include Pittsburgh blade smith Artifact Metalworks, regional artist Dani Spewak and artisans from Touchstone Center for Crafts!
Artisan Tattooing
1:00 – 7:00 p.m.
New to the festival this year, custom tattoos with Homestead Pennsylvania’s KSD & the Radio Room! Watch these incredible artists at work throughout the day and even sign up to get your own permanent festival memento!
Price: Custom tattoo costs vary
Live Graffiti Painting Demonstrations
4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Rivers of Steel’s Graffiti Art crew will be painting throughout the festival—showing off their aerosol skills to produce a new mural by the end of the night! (Pictured here artist Matt Sphar paints a mural tower in his signature style.)
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