Join Rivers of Steel in celebrating industrial arts and American craft at the Carrie Blast Furnaces!
This one-of-kind extravaganza invites audiences of all ages to celebrate the industrial arts and American crafts through hands-on activities, trade demonstrations, tours, live music, fireworks, and more!
Showcasing the creativity of our region’s artists, makers, and builders, the Festival of Combustion takes inspiration from the iron-making legacy of the Carrie Blast Furnaces. An all-day iron pour is at the heart of the festival—learn to mold your own design or simply watch the spectacle as designs are cast from hot metal. Check out other demonstrations by blacksmiths, glassblowers, welders, metal fabricators, and more, then get creative with hands-on activities for adults and children alike. After dark, the sparks fly during a performance pour, followed by fireworks over the furnaces!
Mini-Industrial Tours of the Furnaces will be offered throughout the day. Guests are now able to reserve tickets in advance for a fee. Those that register the day of can still participate at no charge, pending availability.
Craft beer, food trucks, live music, tattoos, and a maker marketplace with regional artisans will add to the festival atmosphere, including performances by Tom Breiding and the Union Railroad, Bindley Hardware Company, and The Shameless Hex. It’s a day of fun for everyone!
Tickets are $20 in advance, which covers both day and evening activities. Admission is free for those under age 18. Live demos, marketplace admission, and workshops are included in the event ticket. For those seeking advance mini-tours tickets, they can be purchased at the same time as admission tickets.
The event runs 1:00 to 9:00 PM. Online ticket sales close at midnight on Friday, October 6. Tickets will be $25 at the gate. Free parking is available on the grounds.
Full details can be found on the festival webpage.
The Festival of Combustion is October 7, 2023 from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m.
$20
Kids under 18 are free. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance. Tickets at the gate are $25.
The Carrie Blast Furnaces are located in Swissvale and Rankin, PA in the Monongahela River Valley. The address is 801 Carrie Furnace Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15218.
As a former industrial site, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure an enjoyable visit.
Thank you for following these guidelines. We wish you to have the best visit possible, and appreciate your patience as we continue to improve the visitor experience.
For more information, contact info@riversofsteel.com.
such as tours, workshops, and festivals happening at each unique attraction.
