James Black Bowie Heritage Festival in Washington, AR is April 23

The mayor of Washington, Arkansas, Paul Henley and Forged in Fire South America judge Ricardo Vilar were the guest speakers at this week’s Nashville Rotary Club meeting to talk about a new festival in Washington called the James Black Bowie Heritage Festival.

Henley reported this is the first year for this festival and it will be held on Saturday, April 23 from 9 am to 5 pm.

Henley said he hopes 14 of the 15 existing original James Black productions will be on hand during the festival. He also stated 25 bladesmiths will be in attendance displaying their craftsmanship during the knife show in the W.P.A. Gymnasium.

Vilar moved to Nashville from Brazil five-years ago. He was a past competitor and winner on the History Channel show “Forged in Fire”. And now he is a judge on the “Forged in Fire South America” show. He also teaches at the James Black School of Bladesmithing in Washington. He said University of Arkansas at Hope-Texarkana is the only school someone can earn a degree in bladesmithing.

Vilar said J. Neilson and Doug Marcaida (Ma-Ka-Da) from ‘Forged in Fire” will be in attendance and there will be several competitions throughout the day.

For more information, follow VisitWashingtonAR on Facebook or call 870-703-4826.