Village of Knives Celebration Returns to Little Valley July 10–11 with Cutlery Heritage, Fire Department Centennial & Family Fun
Village of Knives Celebration Returns to Little Valley July 10–11 with Cutlery Heritage, Fire Department Centennial & Family Fun
The third annual Village of Knives Celebration honors Little Valley's legendary knife-making history while celebrating America's 250th birthday and the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department's 100th anniversary with demonstrations, family activities, food, and community fundraising.
Now in its third year, Little Valley’s annual Village of Knives Celebration is taking place this weekend, July 10-11, 2026 at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds. While the celebration always commemorates Little Valley’s long history of cutlery manufacturing, this year’s event has even more to celebrate, as it combines two birthdays in support of a great cause: America’s 250th birthday and the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department’s 100th birthday.
John Burrell, Ellicottville mayor and co-founder of the Village of Knives Celebration, noted that this year’s event continues the tradition of giving back to the community. He explained, “Our inaugural year we made the first knives in Little Valley in 61 years, then auctioned them to donate the money to needy causes. This year, Little Valley’s Volunteer Fire Department was hit with ridiculous electric bills, so we are sharing the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds and revenues in hopes they raise money that benefits the entire region during emergencies.”
The idea for a festival that celebrates Little Valley’s cutlery history began in 2024 with Burrell and his cousin, Brad Lockwood, author of The Case Cutlery Dynasty: Tested XX. The two are descendants of the Case family, America’s oldest and largest family of knife makers who started, owned, or ran 32 different cutlery companies in the Ellicottville area. Just a few years ago, Burrell started his own company, Top Flight Early American Cutlery, and in talking with Lockwood, making knives, and traveling to knife shows, the two decided that Little Valley should celebrate the village’s unique history with a festival. Over the past two years, knife collectors, vendors, and knife makers from all over the country have traveled to Little Valley for the celebration, and this year’s event promises even more excitement. Knife collectors are encouraged to bring their collection for appraisal and perhaps add to it, as there will be a limited run of Case Brothers and Kinfolks commemorative knives that have been made for sale by W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery.
The 2026 event is commemorating America’s 250th birthday by recreating a very special and unique set of cutlery that was originally made to celebrate America’s 100th birthday. In 1876, Beaver Falls Cutlery of Pennsylvania created a giant knife and fork set with handles made of actual ivory tusks to celebrate the centennial. In 1890, when Cattaraugus Cutlery bought out Beaver Falls’ machinery to begin manufacturing in Little Valley, they obtained the large cutlery set, which many Cattaraugus Cutlery workers remember walking under on their way to lunch. However, the set went inexplicably missing in the late 1970s.
“In fine Little Valley tradition, we decided to make them! The knife alone measures 10 and a half feet tall and weighs 400 pounds. Undoubtedly, this is the largest carving set in the world, reincarnated by local masters, forever on display for the world to enjoy once more,” Lockwood stated. The cutlery set is a stunning culmination of local artistry and manufacturing, as it was designed by Walter Baranowski, Forged in Fire champion and owner of Baranowski Metalworking and Fabrication. The handles, which of course cannot be made of ivory, were turned by a talented Amish woodworker, and the steel was water-jet cut by Springville Manufacturing. Polishing was performed by three Case relatives: Burrell, Lockwood, and Claude Case.
To celebrate the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department’s centennial, make sure to take part in the variety of activities happening throughout the weekend, including a parade on Saturday at 11:00am and activities at the fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday. Family-friendly fun includes historic fire department photos and equipment on display, face painting, a bounce house, food vendors, and Saturday’s chicken barbecue. There will even be a best beard and mustache competition!
Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department President Dustin Ryan shared the department’s long history, as it began as the private Crissey Hook & Ladder Company in the 1880s and became the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department in 1926. He explained, “We now cover a larger service area, including half of Mansfield after it disbanded its own department, so local support has never been more critical. Without our fearless volunteers and fundraising like the Village of Knives Celebration, we simply won't be there for you when you most need us."
Enjoy good food, Ellicottville Brewing Company’s craft beer “Village of Knives,” and more beginning at 9:00am on Friday and Saturday. Admission is free for children under age 18. To learn more about the Village of Knives Celebration, visit www.villageofknives.com.