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• 2025 ROARING CAMP HAMMER-IN - CBA Event

  • Start
    August 15, 2025
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • End
    August 16, 2025
  •  
    9:00 PM
  • Location
    Felton, CA
  • Spaces left
    17

  Register

  2025 ROARING CAMP HAMMER-IN

  Registration opens June 20.
  Maximum 50 participants.

  We encourage everyone with an interest in blacksmithing, the metal arts, etc., to come to the Hammer-in at Roaring Camp. It will be open to the public for viewing; everyone will be able to watch as our demonstrators push the boundaries of hot metal, bring ancient techniques to life, and share with the larger community their talent and dedication to the blacksmith’s craft. However, only CBA members who pay the registration fee may work at the anvils and forges. 

  DATE: August 15-16, 2025

  LOCATION: 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton

  PRICE: 
  Full Hammer-In - Register on or before July 14, 2025 - $130
  Full Hammer-In - with Campsite (limited) - $130
  Full Hammer-In - Register after July 14, 2025 - $150
  Single Day Hammer-In - August 15 OR 16 - Register Before July 14, 2024 - $85
  Single Day Hammer-In - August 15 OR 16 - Register After July 14, 2024 - $105

  REGISTRATION: Here on the CBA website. Registration is open till August 14, 2025 or until our maximum of 50 registrants is reached.

  DEMONSTRATORS: Heather McLarty, Dakota Myers, Angelo Brusatory, and Frank Golding. Education team with Jake Trogdon and David Thayer.
  

  AUCTION, IRON IN THE HAT, NAIL TREE: Once again, we will have an auction at the Saturday night banquet. Iron in the Hat tickets will be sold throughout the event, and IITH will be run before dinner on Saturday night. Bring items you’d like to donate for either the auction or IITH. And be sure to make a nail for our nail tree!

  GALLERY: This year we will have a gallery space that we will use to show off some of the "Forged in the Box" entries. New submissions are welcome. 

  MEALS: CBA volunteers will provide a coffee tent; donuts, bagels, etc. will be available. Breakfast items and Lunch will be available on-site from the Roaring Camp Georgie's Cook House (opens at 10 AM). Friday night potluck. Saturday night dinner - $35 (full meal, non-alcoholic drinks included) 
  

  T-SHIRTS: Will be available at the hammer-in.
  

  ACCOMMODATIONS:
  • Limited free on-site tent camping. Use the special registration option for this. Only 10 sites are available and all you get is a moderately flat place to pitch a tent fairly close to the demo areas. Compact 4wd vehicles should be able to access, larger not recommended. Vehicle access may not be allowed during prime park operating hours.
  • Overnight RV/Camper parking is available. These are parking spots only, no water, power, or dump station. Must park in the lot closest to Graham Hill Rd.
  • Camping may also be available in nearby parks.
  • There are other motels nearby in Felton, Ben Lomond, Scotts Valley, and Santa Cruz.

  DIRECTIONS: SR-17 to Scotts Valley. Take exit #3 at Mt. Hermon Rd., turn right and drive 3.5 miles to Felton. Turn left on Graham Hill Road, and drive 1/2 mile to Roaring Camp (it’s on your right, 5401 Graham Hill Road).

  PARKING: Attendee parking permits for the main Roaring Camp lot, and for registered campers, will be distributed for printing by August 14. 
  

  HAMMER-IN CONTACTS:  Bill Kasper at treasurer@calsmith.org,  Michael Suwczinsky at secretary@calsmith.org.

  DEMONSTRATORS and DEMONSTRATIONS:
  Heather McLarty will be forging a steel Roaring Camp game board with forged, chased, and folded copper and steel pieces with the help of participants.  She intends to use it as a jumping-off point to design a metal "map" using steel and copper and maybe some magnets. She welcomes anyone who wants to work the whole time and those who want to make a contribution even for an hour or two. It doesn't need to be to scale. There will be loads of inspirations around us, from the buildings to the train and tracks to the forest, fungi, creatures, and fairies. Come with a "plan" or come and work with us on the fly. Bring tools if you want, but bring your imagination and curiosity.
  
  Dakota Myers will be creating a sculpture out of steel as his demonstration.

  Angelo Brusatory will be demonstrating two different things:  a camping tripod with chain, and a trammel hook with rigging.  There will be opportunities for attendees to help make chain and other parts of his projects.

   
  

  Frank Golding will be demonstrating his woven steel and brass bowls.  He is going to show how to make a small woven pattern Christmas tree ornament on Friday. He'll give people a chance to use the flypress to make their own on Saturday.

   
  

  Here's a sketch of the ornament:

  The Education Team with Jake Trogdon and David Thayer will be teaching lightweight tongs and flux/salt spoons.

  
  

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• OCTOBERFEST 2025 - CBA Event

  • Start
    October 03, 2025
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • End
    October 05, 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Fritz's Ranch, Cazadero, CA
  • Spaces left
    150

  OCTOBERFEST 2025

  
  

  Octoberfest 2025 is on! 
  Join Us for the 44^rd year of the one and only ….

  Fritz’s Octoberfest

  Join us for a beautiful weekend of camping and blacksmithing on the Sonoma coast.

  Featured demonstrator TBD
  Teaching tent - TBD

  DATE: October 3 - 5, 2025

  LOCATION: Fritz Hagist’s Ranch
  34895 Kruse Ranch Road, Cazadero, California
  Shop 707/847-3362, Home 707/847-3935

  MAP: octoberfest2023_map.pdf

  CONTACT: Michael Suwczinsky, secretary@calsmith.org

  REGISTRATION: Online or by mail 
  
  Online. REGISTRATION IS OPEN. ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL BE OPEN TILL OCTOBER 1, 2025

  Mail. Make check payable to CBA.
  CBA Secretary Michael Suwczinsky
  5505 Santa Cruz Ave, Richmond, CA 94804

  You must be a CBA member to attend.  Conference limited to the first 150 registrants.   SIGN UP EARLY or risk missing out!

  COST: (subject to change)
  

  Tickets by Sept 12th     

           CBA Members                       $220
           Additional Family Members    $130

  Tickets after Sept 12th     

           CBA Members                       $250
           Additional Family Members    $160   

  Refund Policy:  50% refund if cancelled by 9/20, No refund after 9/20.
  

  * Due to capacity limits and cost increases for food, etc, the Octoberfest price has gone up since the last event (as all things have.)  Keeping in mind that this is "room & board" for 3 days -  we feel this is fair and realistic, and we hope you feel the same.

  SET UP:  Arrive on Friday. Site Opens Friday. Arrive before dark – difficult to find in the dark/fog

  AUCTION & IRON IN THE HAT RAFFLE: Please bring items of value for these fun fundraisers. 

  MEALS: Friday lunch through Sunday lunch. State the number of children attending on your registration form. 

  PROGRAM: Friday dinner and evening slide show presentation. Friday night open forges till.... Gallery, tailgating, demos go all day Saturday and Sunday morning. Open forging BETWEEN workshops. Saturday evening auction and Iron In The Hat.

  COURTESY & SAFETY. ABSOLUTELY NO DOGS ALLOWED. DRIVE SLOWLY once you get off SR 1. This event has a big impact on this rural neighborhood which extends for several miles. PLEASE be courteous, especially when driving through Plantation Camp on Kruse Ranch Road. Keep road dust to a minimum, and watch for animals and people. CHILDREN MUST BE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES. HIGH GRASS FIRE DANGER. Be cautious. Bring safety glasses and hand tools. This is a CO-OP event. Everyone makes it happen, so plan to participate. 

  LODGING: Camping is available on site for tents and small RVs (but no hook-ups). Hot showers are available. Prepare for all weather – hot, cold, fog, rain, sun.

  These hotels are fairly close along Hwy 1.
  

  Fort Ross Lodge, 707 847 3333
  Timber Cove Inn,  707 847 3231
  Salt Point Lodge,  707 847 3234
  Above all in Timbercove, near Fritz's shop
  Gualala Country Inn 707 884 4343 (Gualala)
  Surf Inn  707 884 3571 (Gualala)

  ROADS TO OKTOBERFEST: Head for Plantation. From Hwy 101 take River Road/Guerneville exit in Santa Rosa. Follow the signs to Guerneville and Jenner (Hwy 116). At Hwy 1 head north to Meyers Grade (RECOMMENDED IF YOU HAVE A BIG RIG OR TRAILER). At about 5 miles, Meyers Grade merges into Seaview Road. Fourteen miles later, turn left on Kruse Ranch Road. Follow the anvil signs one- and-a-half miles to Fritz’s driveway on the right. 
   octoberfest2023_map.pdf

  DEMONSTRATORS: TBD

  OCTOBERFEST EDUCATION: TBD

  
  

  
  

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• SPRING CONFERENCE 2026 - CBA Event

  • Start
    April 16, 2026
  • End
    April 19, 2026
  • Location
    VISTA FORGE, A.G.S.E.M., Vista, CA

  The 2026 Spring Conference will host a great series of guest demonstrators, hands-on education activities, and fun contests and games for all skill levels, not to mention great food! The 2026 conference committee will host an epic family-style barbecue as well! Plan your trip now and check back often for updates and registration.

  • Hands-on Education
  • Special Bladesmithing Area
  • Youth Education Area
  • Contests & Games
  • Gallery
  • Banquet and Auction
  • Vendors and Tailgating
  • On-site Meals
  • On-site Camping

  

  CONFERENCE INTRODUCTION VIDEO (This is the 2023 video, the 2026 version will be uploaded soon.)

  DATE:  April 13-15, 2026 

  LOCATION: 
  

  

  VISTA FORGE
  Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
  Vista, CA
  
  

  TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  Conference Fees
  Schedule And Site Map
  Getting There And Lodging
  Demonstrators
  Education / Hands On
  Competitions / Contest
  

  ONLINE REGISTRATION: Register here online. Online registration is open till April 11th, after that you can pay at the door.
  

  MAIL-IN REGISTRATION: Registration Form v4.pdf 

  CONTACT & CO-CHAIRS: 

  Dave Carroll - event chairman
  Chris Branuelas - publicity and planning

  Inquiries about the 2026 Conference:  cbaspringconference23@gmail.com
  Inquiries about the Railroad Spike Challenge: 
  RRSpikeChallenge@gmail.com

  SCHEDULE:  CBA 2023 Conf Prog Final.pdf

  SITE MAP: 

  

  CONFERENCE FEES: (subject to change)

  Conference Fees Per-Person	On/Before March 19	After March 19
  Full Conference (Thursday - Saturday)	$225	$250
  Single Day	$120	$140

  *Non-participating family or friends may attend other open museum areas for $10 daily admission
  
  NO RISK REFUND POLICY - A full refund of conference and meal fees shall be provided if a member cancels at any time prior to the conference starting date. 

  Meals	On/Before March 19	After  March 19
  All Meals (Thursday Breakfast to Saturday Banquet and Auction), VEGETARIAN option available	$120	$140
  Saturday Banquet and Auction Only, VEGETARIAN option available	$30	$30

  There will be a Family-Style Barbecue and Potluck, hosted by Dennis Dusek's team of BBQ stars on Friday night! This event has quickly become a tradition the whole family will enjoy. Everyone is welcome and there is no cost. Feel free to bring a ready-to-serve dish, drink, or dessert to share!
  
  

  GETTING THERE:  

  The conference will be held at the Vista Forge, located on the 55-acre Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum in Vista, California in northern San Diego County. The site has ample room for multiple blacksmithing events and education areas as well as on-site food and camping. Admission includes access to the museum's other areas as well, including a weavers and textile barn and cottage, a clock museum, a working sawmill, grain mill, antique steam and gas engines of all sizes, a clock museum, model railroad exhibit, and a working small track railroad. It is also an easy driving distance to a number of popular attractions like Disneyland, Legoland, Knotts Berry Farms, Sea World, and the San Diego Zoo and Safari Parks. There are many food options off-site and North San Diego is well known for its many breweries and wineries. 

  By Air, the San Diego International Airport and John Wayne Orange County Airports are the closest.

  

  LODGING OPTIONS:

  HOTELS: There are many hotels and motels within a short driving distance of the Conference site. One we recommend is Courtyard by Marriott located at 3501 Seagate Way, Oceanside, CA. Call Marriott Reservations at (800) 321-2211 or (760) 966-1000 on or before Monday, March 13, 2023, to make room reservations. To get a reduced rate, identify yourself as part of the “California Blacksmith Association” staying at the Courtyard San Diego Oceanside. Link to discounted reservation.

  CAMPING: There are plenty of low-cost dry tent and RV camping spots on-site: 

  - Dry RV/Tent camping site $15 per night - available in the registration link.

  
  DEMONSTRATORS - TBD

  
  

  HANDS-ON EDUCATION

  There are many education opportunities planned for the 2023 Conference! You will also be able to try your hand at these demonstrations at the open forges with the instructors available for coaching.

  COMPETITIONS
  

  In addition to plenty of forges available for open forging and practicing demo projects, two evening competitions. Start practicing your skills now to compete and win!

  
  

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