Sea glass doesn’t appear to be the sort of thing people would travel hundreds – or even thousands – of miles to see. Sure, it’s beautiful. But doesn’t it just…look like broken glass?
Well, not exactly.
Sea glass starts out life as bottles, jars, tableware, and other types of glass that made their way into the ocean many decades ago. Waves, sand, and rocks gradually round the edges over years – sometimes generations. What eventually washes back up on shore is frosted, smooth, and entirely one-of-a-kind. Yesterday’s garbage becomes today’s treasure.
That’s why people become so fascinated with it.
The color can give clues to age. The shape might hint at its original form. While common greens and browns are always fun to discover, few things excite the heart of a collector like finding a rare piece of red, orange, or deep cobalt blue sea glass. And it can take years of searching to find that rarest of pieces. Chasing down these colorful fragments of the past is what keeps collectors at it year after year.
That passion for all things sea glass is what attracts collectors, artists, jewelers, historians and beachcombers from around the globe to Mystic each summer for the International Sea Glass Festival. Celebrated as the country’s leading festival honoring genuine sea glass, you’ll find much more than bins and bottles of pretty glass at Mystic’s fun-filled summer event.
More than 50 juried artists, craftspeople and authors transform sea glass into beautiful jewelry, sculptures, home décor, mosaics and unique works of art that you can wear or display. Explore sea glass creations, talk with the artists, and learn how mere fragments of weathered glass are transformed into keepsakes and jewelry that rival stores filled with polished gems.
Is that piece you found on the beach really sea glass? Come to Mystic and find out. Experts will be on site all weekend to discuss how authentic sea glass is formed, what makes one color more rare than another, and how seasoned collectors know the telltale clues of glass that has been tumbling through the surf for decades. Lectures and hands-on demonstrations give festival-goers a closer look at how sea glass is formed and what lies behind these colorful treasures.
Collectors enjoy showcasing their favorite and rarest pieces each year at the festival’s Collectors Showcase on Saturday. And if you think you have some quality sea glass yourself, head to the festival’s Sea Glass Contest on Sunday and let the judges determine how your pieces stack up against the best from around the world.
Of course the festival is fun for the whole family. There are interactive activities for kids to enjoy and Mystic Seaport Museum’s waterfront is one of New England’s most picturesque settings for a weekend in summer. Once you’re done exploring the festival exhibits, you can wander around the museum grounds, take a stroll along the waterfront, check out the historic ships, or spend the day at one of New England’s most famous destinations.
The best part about the festival? Learning that sea glass is about so much more than pretty bottles to be collected. It’s about history. Conservation. Craftsmanship. And the thrill of discovery.
From seasoned collectors to folks who have yet to pick up their first piece of sea glass, there is something for everyone at the 22nd annual International Sea Glass Festival. You might show up wondering what the big deal is about sea glass. You may just leave planning your next beach stroll.
For complete details, check out our 22nd Annual International Sea Glass Festival event guide.
