Old Washington hosting James Black’s Bowie Heritage Festival this weekend
Wednesday afternoon, Washington mayor Paul Henley and knifemaker Ricardo Vilar spoke to the Nashville Rotary Club about the upcoming James Black’s Bowie Heritage Festival in Old Washington.
The festival will be held this Saturday, April 20th.
Vilar explained how the festival started about 3 years ago.
Vilar and several local knifemakers will be in attendance, including Jerry Fisk of Nashville, Lin Rhea (pronounced RAY), JR Cook and Tim Foster.
Fisk was named a National Living Treasure in 1998 by the University of North Carolina. Fisk started making knives in 1974 and was recognized as a Master Smith by the American Bladesmith Society in 1989.
Rhea is a Master Bladesmith and was named an Arkansas Living Treasure in 2023.
Cook is a member of the Arkansas Knife Makers Association and the American Blade Smiths Society. He was named a Master Bladesmith in 1991.
Foster is a Master Bladesmith and lives in Arkansas.
Henley explained how the festival was started and he mentioned some of the celebrities that will be in attendance this Saturday.
The festival is this Saturday from 9 to 5 at the Old Washington State Park and James Black School of Blade smithing and Historic Trades building.
