2026 Texas Blacksmithing Exposition & Texas Antique Gas Engine Reunion fires up February 21st in La Grange
LA GRANGE — The 5th annual Texas Blacksmithing Exposition & the Hume L. Baker Texas Antique Gas Engine Reunion events will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center’s Czech Village grounds in La Grange.
The event was regularly scheduled for Jan. 24 but postponed because of the winter storm that weekend.
The grounds open at 9 a.m. on Saturday and the event begins at 10 a.m. The highlight of this year will be the grand opening of the new Blacksmith Shop in the village at 10:30 a.m. Several years of planning and building of the shop by many volunteers and donors have finally come to fruition. The shop is a working museum with a brick forge, line shaft and equipment powered by a 1916 gasoline engine, and several items that would have been used in an early 1900s small community shop. There will be rotating blacksmiths working in the shop throughout the event.
The Texas Blacksmithing Exposition will incorporate demonstrations and branch into several interest groups, such as farriers, knife makers, wood workers, and blacksmith clubs from around the state.
Blacksmithing demonstrations along with vendors of handmade knives, tools, jewelry, and other pieces of interest will be on going both days. Members of the Aggie Blacksmithing Club and Balcones Forge will be hosting artisanal demonstrations.
The Hume L. Baker Texas Antique Gas Engine Reunion will also be held alongside the Blacksmith Expo.
There are many shows geared towards antique tractors, but none that are solely for the interest of the antique stationary engines, until now.
The farm shows in Texas had seen a decline in the past years in engine displays, and after only a few years of this show, the numbers at shows are beginning to increase.
This show is sure to help fuel up the interest in this educational hobby.
The show will feature gas, steam, hot air, and oil engines operating, and some powering equipment. The show is named in memory of long-time engine collector and restorer Hume L. Baker of Sheridan.
Hume’s dedication to the mechanics of the restoration and eye for detail is known all over Texas’ antique farm shows. Before his passing in 2018, Mr. Baker, as he was known, dispersed his 40+ collection to other collectors and enthusiasts, sharing the love of his hobby with so many to ensure its future.
The South Texas Wheel Spinners & Crank Twisters Club will be the hosting Club for this show.
TCHCC and the Czech Village will be open for touring.
The Zapalac Sawmill and the Czech Newspapers Museum will be in operation.
Concessions will also be available.
A live auction will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday with special handmade blacksmith knives, post vises, and tools along with various other specialty items to top the list.
Musical entertainment playing classic country throughout the day will be by the Annie Rost & Mike Stroup Band.
There is no admission to enter the events, donations are welcomed. The pro- ceeds generated will benefit the Blacksmith Shop and other village projects, educating generations to come.
In the future, the Blacksmith Shop will also be available for clubs and individuals to use to teach a trade that was very important to the life of a community, and a farm, in the early days of Texas’ settlements.
The Blacksmith Shop will be a working museum, and events will be held in it throughout the year.
TCHCC regular business hours are Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center is located at 250 W. Fairgrounds Road on HWY 77 just North of La Grange. Contact 888-785-4500 email [email protected].
