Fire, both seductive and wild, is essential in creating ceramic wares. Join the Baltimore Clayworks community for the unexpected during our expedition of firing techniques from around the world.
$15: Student tickets
$35: Early Phoenix tickets until September 18, 2025
$35: Member Tickets after September 19, 2025
$45: General Admission tickets and day of tickets
Watch live demonstrations! Experience Raku kiln firings, with origins tracing back to China and Japan, and an Obvara kiln firing, lead by professor Trisha Kyner of CCBC, with origins in the Baltic region of Eastern Europe. Both ceramic firing processes are thrilling and involve pulling clay vessels from a 1650°F kiln and then quickly plunging them into cooler materials that shock the glaze and create mesmerizing markings.
Test your clay skills! Sign up to participate in the Clay Olympics, multiple competitions and feats of strength that will take your clay skills to new heights – literally. Winners will earn handmade clay prizes.
Enjoy live musical performances from Todd Marcus. Todd Marcus is one of the few artists worldwide to focus on the bass clarinet as a main instrument in modern jazz with his small and large ensembles. His straight-ahead playing and compositions swing with fiery intensity balanced with delicate introspection. His music offers a strong melodic sensibility, draws from elements of his community work, and often incorporates the Middle Eastern influences of his Egyptian-American heritage.
Throughout Fire Fest and the weekend, guests can also experience Baltimore Clayworks’ Community Woodfiring of our Noborigama kiln, the first urban Japanese ascending kiln operating in the Baltimore region. Wood Kiln Technician Jeremy Wallace will lead students from Towson University, Community College of Baltimore County, Anne Arundel Community College and Morgan State University through the two-day firing process. During this time, the kiln must be fed wood, day and night, to reach 2300°F. Vessels take on a rich variety of colorful flashing and unpredictable glaze effects from either the wood ash or soda chamber. After a week of cooling, pieces emerge with markings from their nights spent dancing with fire.
Proceeds from this event will ensure the continuation of the incredible artistic and educational programs housed at Baltimore Clayworks’ Mt. Washington studio and gallery and in locations around Baltimore City through our Community Arts program. Enjoy a fun-filled evening with friends and family and make a difference by supporting clay artists of all ages and abilities across the Baltimore region.
Raise a toast to creativity! Baltimore Clayworks is proud to present the return of our beloved Oktoberfest: Beer Steins and Wine Goblets Sale, featuring a curated selection of festive, functional ceramic ware handcrafted by local and national artists.
🍻 Special Offer: With each purchase of a beer stein or wine goblet, you’ll receive one complimentary drink ticket to use at Fire Fest 2025!*
*While supplies last. Details subject to change.
This event is supported by the Nature Sacred Firesoul Network.
