Florida Woodturning Symposium 2026 Posts Eight Demonstrators, Feb 20-22 in Lakeland

The Florida Woodturning Symposium has updated its site with the 2026 demonstrator lineup and event details, setting the stage for the Feb 20–22 gathering at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. The announcement matters because it gives turners names to watch, an early heads-up to arrange travel and classes, and links to demonstrator bios and galleries that help plan which sessions and vendor stops to prioritize.

The line-up includes four national demonstrators and four regional demonstrators. National demonstrators are John Beaver, Andy Cole, Kirk DeHeer, and Matt Monaco. Regional demonstrators are Cheryl Lewis, Jason Meneely, Steve Pritchard, and Brian Rosenkrantz. The FWS demonstrator page offers background material for each: “To view bio’s, videos, and photo galleries for all 8 demonstrators, click here to visit the FWS Demonstrators page.” That material will be useful for turners deciding which demos to attend and for clubs planning meetups around specific techniques.

The FWS site calls the gathering “… the largest turning event in Florida!” and includes a “Click Here To Register” prompt for attendees as well as an “Interested in becoming a 2026 vendor? Click here to Register.” prompt for potential vendors. The announcement does not list registration fees, ticket prices, or vendor fee amounts, so expect to confirm costs directly on the symposium pages when registering.

Local club involvement remains central to the event. Hands On Woodturners was “one of the 3 clubs that founded the event in 2001.” “Over the past 24 years, many members of HOW served on the FWS board and continue to do so today.” Hands On Woodturners describes its mission as “promoting the art and craft of woodturning in west central Florida” and points members to a chairman video for additional context. HOW has a local meeting on Feb 18, 2026 with Bill Leigher presenting a Pedestal Bowl; “Our next meeting will be held on February 18, 2026 at 6:45 PM – doors open at 6:00 PM.” The meeting location is listed as the “Lions Club building at 72 Civic Circle, Beverly Hills, Florida 34464.” Guests are welcome and there is no charge. HOW also notes typical meeting content: “The agenda includes reports from the club president and treasurer and an exhibition gallery of member’s works. Usually, we have a demonstration by a proficient woodturner willing to share his / her skills and techniques.”

The FWS announcement arrives amid a busy symposium calendar that includes regional events such as the South West Florida Wood Art Expo on Jan 9–10 and the Tennessee Association of Woodturners Symposium on Jan 30–31, plus national gatherings culminating in the AAW International Woodturning Symposium June 4–7 in Raleigh, described as “the biggest woodturning event in the world.” Commercial partners remain visible; a catalog listing notes “Craft Supplies USA proudly supports woodturning symposiums and events held around the country,” alongside product listings and promotions such as “Save Up to $30\ On Your Order See details.”

For turners planning a weekend of demos, gallery time, and vendor browsing, the next practical steps are to review the FWS demonstrator pages, confirm registration details, and consider attending the HOW Feb 18 meeting as a local preview. The posted lineup gives clubs and individuals time to coordinate carpools, lodging, and demo priorities ahead of the Feb 20–22 symposium.