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Steel Weekend 2025
October 11 @ 10:00 am - October 12 @ 5:00 pm
Join us for an exploration of all things STEEL!
Featuring
Free admission all day | Steelworkers Reunion | Guest Speakers | Live Iron Pour | Steelworker Portrait Studio
Pop-Up Exhibits | Youth Activities | Public Art Installation
Live Demonstrations | Songs About Steelmaking & More
THURSDAY PROGRAMMING
4:30PM SCULPTURE UNVEILING: Chelsea Southard, Bethlehem Visitor Center
FRIDAY PROGRAMMING
3:30PM FILM SCREENING – Bethlehem Steel: The People Who Built America, Univest Public Media Center (839 Sesame Street, Bethlehem, PA)
6-8:00PM Metal Health Workshop, Plaza
SATURDAY PROGRAMMING
ALL DAY
Iron and Steel Demonstrations Foundry Park
Film Screenings Barnette Education Center
Family Friendly Hands-on Activities Plaza
11:00
Bethlehem Plant Walking Tour Plaza
Join former Steelworkers members for a walking tour of the historic Bethlehem Plant. Purchase tickets at the front desk.
11:00
Community Workshop with artist Chelsea Southard
Artist Chelsea Southard’s latest sculpture will be unveiled on October 9th as part of 4th annual Sculpture at SteelStacks exhibition, an outdoor display featured at the entrance to the Visitor Center at SteelStacks. Much of the work Chelsea does is abstract geometry and line work, with prototypes created with paper and string before being fabricated in metal or glass. Join us for this community workshop with Chelsea to learn about the process and then create your own prototype. All supplies will be provided.
12:00
Steelworker Overtime Lunches Plaza
Complimentary overtime brown bag lunches for steelworkers and their families.
12:00 -1:00
Steelworker Songs with Roland Kushner Plaza
Enjoy a live musical performance of songs inspired by industry, labor and steel.
1:00
Veterans of Steel Keynote Address and Film Premiere Education Center
Join us for remarks and the premiere of a documentary on Steelworker Veterans followed by a special panel discussion with the Veterans themselves. Special thanks to the production crew of Bruce Ward, Ed Leskin, Charlie Luthar, and Mary Lafferty.
1:30
Bethlehem Plant Walking Tour Plaza
Join former Steelworkers for a walking tour of the historic Bethlehem Plant. Tickets can be purchased at the front desk.
3:30
Steelworkers’ Archives Bus Tour Meet on NMIH Plaza
Visit the now redeveloped eastern end of the flagship Bethlehem Plant to learn more about the shops that were once here, as well as, the history of the lost Northampton Heights neighborhood. Tickets are $28.50 per person, free for veterans. More information and ticket registration can be found here.
4:00
Corliss Steam Engine Demonstration Machinery Hall
Join us as we operate our 115-ton Corliss steam engine!
7:00
Iron Pour Foundry Park
A public iron pour demonstration will take place outdoors in the Museum’s Foundry Park (weather permitting). Scrap iron will be recycled and melted down in a visually stunning process of fire and molten metal. Refreshments available for purchase.
Panchitas Kitchen will be on site from 3-7
Lehigh Valley Homebrewers will also be on site Saturday afternoon and evening.
SUNDAY PROGRAMMING
ALL DAY
Iron and Steel Demonstrations Foundry Park
Film Screenings Barnette Education Center
Family Friendly Hands-on Activities Plaza
11:00
Bethlehem Plant Walking Tour Plaza
Join former Steelworkers for a walking tour of the historic Bethlehem Plant. Purchase tickets at the front desk.
12:00
Steelworker Overtime Lunches Plaza
Complimentary overtime brown bag lunches for steelworkers and their families.
1:00
LECTURE: Surprises from the Archives – No.2 Machine Shop Barnette Education Center
Join Mike Piersa, NMIH Historian, for an introduction to the most iconic building on the former Bethlehem Plant site.
1:30
Bethlehem Plant Walking Tour Plaza
Join former Steelworkers for a walking tour of the historic Bethlehem Plant. Purchase tickets at the front desk.
2:00
PERFORMANCE: Bethlehem Steel Legacy Band Next Level Second Floor
A performance paying tribute to the Bethlehem Steel Company Band (1910 – 1925) will take place in the Museum’s newly expanded 2nd floor space. An industrial band Charles M. Schwab, President of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, gave as a Christmas present to the town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Bethlehem Steel Company Band was seen performing locally at special events such as parades, parties, town ceremonies, school concerts, football club celebrations, and during the lunch hour for steel plant workers. The “Bethlehem Steel Company Legacy Band” performance will pay homage to the Bethlehem Steel Company Band while providing high quality music-making opportunities for performers and meaningful communication through music for the audience using historic period style music.
3:30
Steelworkers’ Archives Bus Tour Meet on NMIH Plaza
Visit the now redeveloped eastern end of the flagship Bethlehem Plant to learn more about the shops that were once here, as well as, the history of the lost Northampton Heights neighborhood. Tickets are $15 per person, free for veterans. More information and ticket registration can be found here.
4:00
Corliss Steam Engine Demonstration Machinery Hall
Join us as we operate our 115-ton Corliss steam engine!
Generously sponsored by:
Hank & Joanne Barnette
MMZ Foundation
Funding was provided in part by the County of Northampton Department of Community & Economic Development Hotel Tax Grant Program.
