Gretna Green the marriage ceremony. The blacksmiths in Gretna became known as "anvil priests", culminating with Richard Rennison, who performed 5,147 ceremonies. The local blacksmith and his anvil became lasting symbols of Gretna Green weddings. Two in particular, The Old Blacksmith's Shop, built around 1712, and Gretna Hall Blacksmith's Shop (1710) became, in popular folklore at least, the focal tourist points for the marriage trade. The Old Blacksmith's Shop opened to the public as a visitor attraction as early as 1887. Victorian chronicler Robert Smith Surtees described Gretna Green at length in his 1848 "New Monthly Magazine" serial, "The Richest Commoner in
Gretna Heritage Festival Street Ferry Dock to the Gretna Ferry Landing can be yours too. This award winning festival has been named to the Southeastern Tourism Society's Top Twenty for the years 2004-09, American Bus Association Top 100 Events in North America 2006-09, and AAA Southern Traveler Official Travel Treasure 2006. The Gretna Heritage Festival promotes and supports businesses and organizations in the City Of Gretna, La. We also support many local, state, and national charitable organizations. Gretna Heritage Festival Gretna Heritage Festival is a culture festival in Gretna, Louisiana. The festival offers food, arts & crafts, rides & games, and music. The