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A horizontal grid of 3 images featuring text against a black background & photographs. Left: Print Expo & Fair 2026. Centre: Metal printers blocks, typeset with the message Every Dog has its Day. Right: An antique printing press.
A horizontal grid of 3 images featuring text against a black background & photographs. Left: Print Expo & Fair 2026. Centre: Metal printers blocks, typeset with the message Every Dog has its Day. Right: An antique printing press.

Printing history Printing history

comes alive at an annual print exhibition & fair in a remarkable museum.

Home Events Paper Howard Iron Works Print Expo & Fair 2026

Howard Iron Works Print Expo & Fair 2026

On Saturday, September 26, 2026 – Howard Iron Works Printing Museum hosts their annual Print Expo & Fair. Activities include tours, demos, hands-on printing experiences, workshops, and shopping for unique and beautiful offerings by a talented group of artists, printers and book arts folks. Admission and tours are free.

One day only!

Embark on a fascinating exploration of printing technologies through the ages at Canada’s largest printing museum. The Print Expo & Fair is an opportunity to step back in time and explore how we connected before the digital era.

Witness live demonstrations of historical presses, unveiling the enchanting history right before your eyes. Interact with Howard Iron Works’ passionate museum team and volunteers to uncover the captivating narratives behind each artifact and machine showcased. Immerse yourself in the intricate tapestry of printing history at a leisurely pace.

Sign up for one of their ticketed workshops, print your own keepsake and shop the fair – which features artists who still employ historical tools and techniques.

Part of Culture Days, Print Expo & Fair is a community event for all ages, held in a fully accessible facility. It promises to be a great show and they look forward to seeing you all there!

Printing workshops

Workshops are 60 to 90 minutes long, with a maximum of 10 participants each:

  • Two-Colour Linocut Card Printing (10:30 AM – 12:30 PM ET) with Canadian printmaker Ashley Andrews. Create a set of five beautiful hand-printed greeting cards while learning the fundamentals of two-colour relief printmaking. In this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will print from two pre-carved linoleum blocks, carefully layering each colour to explore registration, colour mixing and the magic of building an image one layer at a time.
  • Grunge Art in a Good Way (12:30 – 2:00 PM ET) with visual artist Beverly Allen. Make an 8 ½” x 11″ poster with paint, markers, chalk, words and images from magazines and newspapers. Add layers and subtract layers for that grungy look. This is your chance to get your message out there graphically. A little graffiti, a little grunge – a lot of fun. Experiment and play.
  • Cyanotype – The Photography Blues (2:30 – 4:00 PM ET) with bookbinder Stuart Hill from George Hill & Co. Cyanotype is a photographic printing technique that uses ultraviolet light to develop an image on treated paper, which results in a monochromatic blue and white image. Think blueprints.

“The most powerful machine ever developed by man was not the nuclear reactor nor the computer. It was the printing press, without which neither would have seen the light of day.”

– Nick Howard, Co-founder & Curator of Howard Iron Works Museum

About Howard Iron Works Printing Museum

Established in 2016, the Howard Iron Works Museum and Restoration facility is the fulfilment of a life-long dream of co-founders Liana and Nick Howard, who also run Howard Graphic Equipment Ltd., a leading-edge supplier and rebuilder of printing and converting equipment. The museum features a diverse and historically important collection of machinery and materials from 1830 to 1950, with all machines disassembled, repaired and finished to be as good as new. You can read more about their history here.

Image featuring text on a black background superimposed over a photograph of a vintage printing press. Howard Iron Works Print Expo & Fair 2026. Oakville, ON. Sat. Sep. 26

(Photo credits: Howard Iron Works Printing Museum.)

 

Event details

Hosted by: Howard Iron Works Printing Museum

Type of event: demos, workshops & printers fair

Participating vendors: See the list of vendors here 

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Time: The whole event goes from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET. Please refer to the workshop schedule above for specific start times.

Duration: The whole event lasts 6 hours. Workshops are 60 – 90 minutes each.

Cost:

  • Admission & museum tour: Free
  • Workshops: C$25.00 each + HST, per person (see booking link below)

Location: Howard Iron Works Printing Museum, 800 Westgate Road, Oakville, ON, L6L 5N2 (free parking)

Museum tour: tour details here 

Workshop booking link: Book your workshop spot here by clicking on the workshop you wish to take. Maximum 10 participants each.

Contact Details: Liana Howard, Howard Iron Works Printing Museum, 800 Westgate Road, Oakville, ON, L6L 5N2, Canada; (905) 821-0000, info@howardironworks.org, howardironworks.org

 

Accessibility: The Museum is accessible, with a level, ground floor entrance and accessible washrooms – fully accessible for mobility devices and strollers. This event is suitable for ages 4+. Children 12 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult.