Crosby Arboretum will hold its 10th annual Forge Day on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Pat Drackett, Director of the Crosby Arboretum and assistant extension professor of landscape architecture with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the event brings over a dozen local metal workers to the area. She invites anyone interested in making metal working a hobby, or just wants to watch and learn the history of it, to attend.

Attendees of the event will have an opportunity to see the techniques metal workers use to make jewelry and knives.

Drackett said the idea for the event began after a number of people attending the Piney Woods Heritage Festival found the blacksmith exhibition intriguing. After seeing how popular the exhibition was, they decided to host an event dedicated to local metal workers.

“Terrell Tickett, who has passed away, played a big role in helping us organize this event during the first year,” Drackett said. “He was wonderful with children and he always found a way to get people excited about upcoming events.”

During the past couple of years, the event has attracted over 400 people and this year the Crosby Arboretum is preparing to host the same number of people.

Members of the Gulf Coast Blacksmith Association will demonstrate many of their skills and techniques, Drackett said.

Members of the Arboretum can attend for free. The event costs $5 for non-member adults and $2 for children. The Crosby Arboretum is located at 370 Ridge Road in Picayune. For more information, contact the Crosby Arboretum at (601) 799-2311.

“This is a great event for anyone to see something unique and different,” Drackett said.