By Callum Ludwig
Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead’s Blacksmith and Artisans Festival was a big success on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October.
About 1000 attendees visited over the two days despite the dreary weather, taking in the unique displays of crafts and skills.
Blacksmith Paul Cacioli said it was a very good turnout from both attendees and exhibitors.
“We had at least 500 people each day and it was a really interesting crowd that came, a lot of people came dressed in different sorts of costumes, we had wizards and fairies and elves running around,” he said.
“We had some artisans, leather makers, bookbinders, weavers, we had a gypsy telling fortunes with her tarot cards, the Kraken medieval fighting group, the Viking reenactment group and of course, the blacksmiths and woodturners as well.”
The free event comes shortly after the inaugural Spring Festival and Art on the Hill exhibition at Mont De Lancey, with the Draught Horse and Yesteryear Festival in February 2024 the next to come on the event schedule.
Mr Cacioli said they want to get Mont De Lancey more out there and doing more activities with the community.
“A lot of people still are discovering Mont De Lancey and what it has to offer, and people were genuinely interested in what we were doing, asking lots of questions and there were many purchases made as well,” he said.
“It’s something different, you don’t see it every day and a lot of people have never seen a blacksmith before and don’t really understand what a blacksmith does or the amount of work it actually takes to make something,”
“Once upon a time, that’s how everything was made by hand and this is a way you can see how it was once done, which it isn’t anymore othan than as a hobby.”
Mr Cacioli has been smithing for 20 years now, head blacksmith Oskar Huecherig for seven years and has taught and run classes with him for the last 13.
