Hope Lions and Hope Kiwanis Hear Program on James Black’s Bowie Heritage Festival Set for Washington

The Hope Lions and the Hope Kiwanis heard a program about the upcoming James Black’s Bowie Heritage Festival set for April 25th and 26th in Washington. Mona Still was joined by Catherine Rowe at Lions and Washington Mayor Paul Henley at Kiwanis. This will be the 4th edition of the festival and events are scheduled from 9am until 5pm each day.  The festival celebrates James Black, the bladesmith who forged the first Bowie Knife for Jim Bowie in Washington.  It will showcase a variety of Arkansas heritage crafts and trades.

Four world-renowned master bladesmiths will be on hand for the festival.  These include Jerry Fisk, Lin Rhea, J.R. Cook, and Tim Foster.  Also participating will be Doug Marcaida, Ricardo Vilar, and J. Nielson.  Also coming is actor, stunt actor, and weapons master Anthony De Longis.

Thirty knife-makers will be set up in the WPA gym during the festival.  In addition to the knife show, an antique Bowie Knife exhibition will be held in the gym.  There will be selfbow and knapping demonstrations in the 1874 Courthouse courtyard.  The courtyard will also host craft vendors.  Food vendors will be on hand on Morrison Street as will the Daisy BB Gun range.  Free wooden Bowie Knives will also be given away to the public. There will be an early Arkansas re-enactors encampment, welding school simulators from UAHT and Cossotot, the Lower Arkansas Ham Radio Operators Group, and the Arkansas Game & Fish Archery Station on Saturday.

For information on the event, phone 870-648-5084 or visit bowieknifefest.com.