2026 Maryland Iron Festival Saturday Activity: Scratch Block/Iron Tile Pour

Make your own iron tile! Before purchasing please understand that the iron pour is on Saturday, May 16th ONLY and is time sensitive. It requires at home preparation prior to the Maryland Iron Festival. Participants must be local and able to pick up their purchased tiles in advance of Saturday, May 16th in order to bring them to the site the morning of the pour.

• Once purchased you may pick up your blank scratch block between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM on May 2nd or 3rd, 9th or 10th from The Museum of the Ironworker. Participants must decorate their scratch blocks at home, not on site the day of the festival.
• Participants must bring their decorated scratch blocks to The Museum of the Ironworker by 11:45 AM on Saturday, May 16th. This is a firm deadline. Please note that the road is closed during the festival, please follow the parking directions and shuttle from the Manor Parking Lot or walk the trail to the festival. Volunteers will be in high res vests and can assist you in locating the museum if you need help.
• The live iron pour is exspected to take place between 1:00-2:00 PM on Saturday May 16th and all may watch. While watching the live pour please stay behind the stantions. We will have a live MC discussing the process of ironmaking. The iron pour goes on for a few hours and it's start and finish depend on how quickly the iron comes up to temperature.
• Cleaned and cooled tiles may be picked up after 4:00 PM on Saturday May 16th or anytime on Sunday May 17th during festival hours. All finished blocks must be picked up in person by a member of your party. For pickup we require that a photo of your scratch block be taken before the iron pour so that you and the iron pour team can locate your personalized tile and ensure that you are reunited.

Pleaes see parkingin information on the for parking and shuttle information during the Maryland Iron Festival weekend

Museum of the Ironworker

12610 Catoctin Furnace Road

Thurmont, MD 21788

We hope to see you at the 8th annual Maryland Iron Festival, May 16th and 17th.

Full festival schedule is forthcoming and updated regulary on the offical Maryland Iron Festival event page: catoctinfurnace.org/mif

Info: Shuttle into the festival from the Manor Parking lot. Drop off your scratch block at The Museum of the Ironworker (remember to take a photo of your tile)
12610 Catoctin Furnace Road
Thurmont, MD 21788

Info: All are welcome to watch the live iron pour in front of the F.W. Fraley Store (across the street from the Museum of the Ironworker). The iron pour goes on for some time after it begins and please note that the iron can heat quickly or slowly. Our team will announce updates on the start time during the event. If you have any questions please ask a volunteer in a high-res vest.

Info: This is a tentative time for earliest pick up. Please follow the directions of the iron pour team in case more time is needed for the cooling. You must present a photo of your carved scratch block to them to matched to the poured tile for pickup.

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