Historic Crafts and Trades Fair

Please join the Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia for a showcase of historic crafts and trades in honor of the Company’s 300th Anniversary and the 250th Anniversary of the completion of Carpenters’ Hall.

The fair will be held on Saturdays in the springtime: April 27th, May 4th, May 11th, and May 18th from 11am to 4pm. These are free, family-friendly, interactive events that will be held in Carpenters’ Court, in front of Carpenters’ Hall. Guests will explore the trades that helped build Carpenters’ Hall through demonstrations of blacksmithing, carpentry, masonry, and crafts such as basketweaving. All of these skills were critical in the construction of colonial Philadelphia, and the planned interactive demonstrations by skilled tradespersons will utilize the tools and techniques from that era. Guests will also discuss these trades as modern careers with professionals themselves.

These events are free to the public. However, 100% of donated funds will go to a separate community beneficiary each weekend.

Precise times and schedules of daily activities will be announced closer to the date of the event.

April 27th, 2024: Join us on Saturday, April 27th for free demonstrations in blacksmithing at Carpenters’ Court in front of Carpenters’ Hall at 320 Chestnut Street. The blacksmith was one of the most essential tradesmen of any colonial town. Making indispensable items such as horseshoes, pots, pans, nails, as well as the tools used by the other skilled craftsmen of their era, blacksmiths were the one-stop shop for all things metal. Come to Carpenters’ Court to witness a real live competition of blacksmiths utilizing tools and techniques, and cheer on our contestants as we hold a competition between skilled smiths. You will be the judge and vote for your favorite blacksmith at this family friendly event for everyone!

The blacksmithing weekend is run in partnership with the Holzman Iron Studio and Bryn Athyn College Building Arts program. 

Although this event is free to the public, any donations collected this weekend will be given to The Save the Historic Blacksmithing Shop at Fort Mifflin.

May 4th, 2024: Join us on Saturday, May 4th for free interactive demonstrations in masonry at Carpenters’ Court in front of Carpenters’ Hall at 320 Chestnut Street. From its earliest origins, Philadelphia has been a city of brick, a city of rowhomes and cobblestone paths. Philadelphia’s brick masons passed some of the first brick laws in the colonies and were among the first to organize as a trade union. The brick industry in Philadelphia influenced American architecture and building technology unlike any other trade. Additionally, the local limestone, schist, and gneiss were utilized in wall construction throughout the region. Come to Carpenters’ Court to experience live demonstrations of laying brick walls and building arches, similar to the features used in Carpenters’ Hall. The historic tools will be exhibited and displayed. Learn about how skilled bricklayers and masons are employed today and the relevance of their work.

The masonry weekend is run in partnership with International Masonry Institute, Employing Bricklayers Association, Joseph Dugan, Inc., and the Williamson College of the Trades.

Although this event is free to the public, any donations collected this weekend will be given to MyWIC, Mentoring Young Women in Construction.

May 11th, 2024: Join us on Saturday, May 11th for free interactive demonstrations in carpentry at Carpenters’ Court in front of Carpenters’ Hall at 320 Chestnut Street. In a century when most buildings were built from wood, no tradesmen were more useful than the carpenter and joiner. The carpenter worked from a building’s foundation to its roof ridge. Carpenters of the colonial era were architects and engineers as well as builders. A carpenter laid floors, chiseled mortise-and-tenon joints, framed walls, raised rafters, carved moldings, hung doors, and erected staircases. Come to Carpenters’ Court to experience live demonstrations utilizing common carpentry tools of the colonial era and view the construction of joints and features similar to those in Carpenters’ Hall. Learn about how skilled carpenters are employed today and the value of their work.

The carpentry weekend is run in partnership with The Carpenters’ Union, Frank Radomski & Sons, and the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters’ Technical College.

Although this event is free to the public, any donations collected this weekend will be given to The Carpenters’ Joint Apprenticeship Training Center.

May 18th, 2024: Join us on Saturday, May 18th for free interactive demonstrations of a variety of colonial crafts at Carpenters’ Court in front of Carpenters’ Hall at 320 Chestnut Street. Most colonial families had to be able to make their own soap, candles, furniture, cloth, baskets, toys, and musical instruments! Visit Carpenters’ Court to view colonial era crafts such as tinsmithing, basketweaving, broom making, leatherwork, stained glass-work, plastering over wood lath, and stone carving.

This weekend is run in partnership with Historic Cold Spring Village and LimeWorks.us & Craftwork Training Center, Telford PA.

Although this event is free to the public, any donations collected this weekend will be given to Historic Cold Spring Village.

More info: https://www.carpentershall.org/historic-crafts-and-trades