OK but what IS Smashfest?

SmashFest began at the Scrap Exchange in 2011 when the roof collapsed on our Foster Street home and our new space was in disarray. After first moving across the street and then across town, there were barrels of mixed up materials, dirty fabric, crumpled cardboard boxes, not-so-clean industrial discards, and STUFF everywhere! It all needed to be sorted and made ready to open The Scrap back up to the public (and  fast). Hindering progress were all the damaged items and non-sellable breakables underfoot and hiding everywhere.

The idea to just have a party and smash all these lingering albatross items began half as a joke, but due to the sheer amount of them floating around and the general disappointment from having to move, SmashFest became a reality. “Black Friday” was chosen as the day for the event as a way of using the destruction of these items not only for some tension relief, but to highlight the sheer amount of stuff that gets thrown away everyday.

From its scrappy beginnings with metal bands, fire barrels, cheap beer, and some boxes of breakables, SmashFest has become a parking lot-sized event attended by thousands over the years. Each year the event grew, and the need for it was ever increasing. The year the infamous HB2 was signed, we dropped a flaming toilet from 20 feet in the air. We have created a Glass Ceiling smasher, flaming conquistadores, and many other spectacles. It’s art meets destruction meets stress relief meets family fun for all (kids LOVE SmashFest).

We prepare all year round for our beloved SmashFest celebration, and encourage everyone to bring any of the big feelings that build over the holidays. Joy, frustration, anger, spite, silliness - whatever motive you arrive to the lot with, you will feel better after you leave. Free and open to the public (all you have to buy is stuff to smash!), we invite you to take part in this annual tradition.

SMASHFEST 2026 IS COMING