Coming up next weekend, the James Black Bowie Heritage Festival is loaded with big names, starting with KNIFE’s own Mark Zalesky…
The 4th Annual James Black’s Bowie Heritage Festival in Washington, Arkansas is coming up April 25-26, celebrating the famous maker of bowie knives.
For two days, the festival will take over the historic town that was once a major stop on the Southwest Trail, carrying travelers like James Bowie, Davy Crockett and Sam Houston from St. Louis to the Red River in Fulton, Arkansas, from which one could get to Texas. Today the town boasts the James Black School of Bladesmithing, a weapons museum, a blacksmith shop, and the historic Williams Tavern and is a part of the Arkansas State Park system.
The festival includes Forged in Fire celebrities Doug Marcaida, Ricardo Vilar and J. Neilson, actor and weapons master Anthony DeLongis, and bladed weapons thrower J.W. Wiseman.
World famous bladesmiths in attendance will include Jerry Fisk, J.R. Cook, Tim Foster and Lin Rhea.
Historic James Black and coffin hilt bowie knife exhibit by Mark Zalesky and Michael Payne
Free knife evaluations by Mark Zalesky
There’s also a Bladesmith Cutting Competition, a Forging Competition, a Welding Competition, Historical Reenactments and Encampments, Bowmakers, Flintknapping, Tours of Historic Buildings, Surrey Rides, Arts & Crafts, and other fun stuff.
4th Annual James Black’s Bowie Heritage Festival in Washington, Arkansas on April 25-26, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The “Feature Image” above cuts out. Here is the complete flyer..
There is a Raffle (and auction which will be detailed in a separate post) for a Ricardo Vilar knife, tickets are $5/each, 5/$20, and you can buy them at the number below.
It doesn’t specifically say so, but if they are going to sell tickets remotely, then it stands to reason that you don’t need to be present to win, but I would confirm when you call.
From the KNIFE Magazine Events Calendar:
