The Zippo/Case Museum & Flagship Store will host the free to attend Made in Bradford Celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Coinciding with the 135th anniversary of the Case brand, the event will celebrate Zippo’s and W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company’s rich history of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurialism in Bradford. The Museum’s gates will open at 8 a.m. for early bird shoppers who wish to wait in line for the event’s limited edition Zippo lighters and Case knives.
The family-friendly celebration will take over the entire museum grounds and will feature a Collectors’ and Makers’ tent that will highlight Zippo and Case enthusiasts’ impressive collections alongside the handiwork of dozens of local artisans and craftspeople. In addition, specially selected items from the company’s own archives will be offered in a special sale leading up to event day.
Special guests will include Brent Reaves of Cabot, Ariz., host of Meateater media network’s “This Country Life” podcast, whose career spans decades as an expert outdoorsman and career law enforcement officer, and Brian McKinney of Pearlsburg, Va., a professional woodcarver who will conduct small group whittling workshops. Visitors who wish to take part in a whittling workshop can inquire at the Consumer Relations tent beginning at 9 a.m. Reservations are limited.
“Last year’s Made in Bradford event was a tremendous success and a continued source of pride shared by all our employees. It really awakened the community to the unique variety of talent that can be found in and around our area. We are thrilled to extend this opportunity to new and returning makers this year,” said Halley Burnett, associate community manager for the Case Collectors Club. “Our small businesses are a part of the foundation that holds our community together. We cannot wait to showcase them again at this year’s event.”
Two unique limited-production collectible Zippo® lighters (100 pieces each) and two unique, limited-production Case® Trapper knives (25 pieces each) have been specially prepared for sale only for this event at the museum. Sales of these collectibles will begin when the doors open at 9 a.m.
From 10 to 11 a.m., several of Zippo’s executives including George Duke, chairman of the board at ZipCorp, and his son, Grant Duke, both co-owners of Zippo; and Mark Paup, president and chief executive officer of Zippo Manufacturing Co. and W.R Case and Sons Cutlery Co. will autograph the Zippo and Case collectibles during the special meet-and-greet session.
Additionally, a limited number of copies of a new 90-page paperback book just published by Barnes & Noble, “The Blaisdell Legacy,” will be released for initial sale at the event. The book was written by Bradford-area residents Ron Orris, executive director of the Blaisdell Foundation, and Jack Gorton, who will also be on hand for autographs. All profits from sales of the book benefit the Blaisdell Foundation, a charitable organization funded by the Zippo family for the Bradford community.
A free trolley service will make continuous rounds between the parking areas surrounding the museum and the Masonic Temple at the corners of South Avenue and Owens Way, where a special “Lighterpalooza” event for Zippo enthusiasts will be underway.
Activities for all ages will begin with bounce houses and inflatable games at 10 a.m., followed by balloon, caricature and face painting artists at 11 a.m. Visitors will also be able to sign the museum’s new digital guestbook.
Food trucks and beverage vendors will be onsite throughout the day, including Bradford Brew Station, Little Mountain Winery, Jaderjohn’s Concessions, Pizza Napoli, The Good Place Food Trailer, Campers Kettle Corn and Foster Brook Creamery, while Interstate Daydream & Acoustic Steve Duo will provide live musical entertainment.
