Charmaine Freemonk and Lydia Barry of Lovely Lady Lydia Artistry pose for a portrait at the Festival of Combustion on Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson 
Metal artist Glen Gardner hammers away at a copper bowl during the Festival of Combustion Credit: Mars Johnson 
Axel poses for a portrait while working the iron pour demonstration at the Festival of Combustion on Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson 
Darnell Goodman high fives Adar Ziev, 3, during the Festival of Combustion on Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson 
The 2025 Festival of Combustion at Carrie Blast Furnaces Credit: Mars Johnson 
The 2025 Festival of Combustion at Carrie Blast Furnaces Credit: Mars Johnson 
Deb Leonori etches an octopus into a mold before it is filled with molten aluminum. Credit: Mars Johnson 
Jamie Knue works on a mosaic craft at the Festival of Combustion on Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson 
Volunteers pour molten iron into molds at the Festival of Combustion on Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson 
The 2025 Festival of Combustion at Carrie Blast Furnaces Credit: Mars Johnson 
The 2025 Festival of Combustion at Carrie Blast Furnaces Credit: Mars Johnson 
The 2025 Festival of Combustion at Carrie Blast Furnaces Credit: Mars Johnson 
Megan Shalonis’ handmade bolo ties for sale at the Festival of Combustion Credit: Mars Johnson
The Festival of Combustion presented by Rivers of Steel brought large crowds to the Carrie Blast Furnaces on Saturday to experience and celebrate the industrial arts. Demonstrations of blacksmithing, welding, forging and glassblowing were on display while local musicians played on the main stage. Attendees lined up to create crafts of their own including mosaics, Raku fired ceramics and more.
This article appears in Fall Guide 2025.
