Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival

Sep 26, 2020 • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

The Lewes Historical Society's 2020 Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 at the Lewes Historical Society's various properties in Lewes. Hours are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. Timed tickets, for the main campus venue is available to purchase on-line. All other Sea Glass Festival venues can be visited at anytime throughout the event, (but have limited capacity due to DE Government mandates ).Admission to the festival's main campus events will be $5 for each 1-1/2 hour increment, in order to allow everyone to attend in a safe and manageable way. All other venues including Shard Identification and Beach Treasure Contest and Children's Corner can be visited at any time with a paid ticket. Children under 12 are free. Pre-purchase tickets will be available on our website or by clicking on the facebook link, or at the gate on both days of the festival, depending on availability.

2020 is the 11th year for this event, and the Historical Society is focused on the historic origins of sea glass and educating the public. The festival will feature fifty sea glass and coastal artists in various mediums such as authentic sea glass, wood, photography, painting, ceramics, metal and sculpture.

New for 2020:
Lectures! Look for "Pure Sea Glass" author, Richard LaMotte's virtual lecture on Shard Identification to be available during the festival for viewing at your leisure. Author and NASGA Education Chair, Mary McCarthy will also be a featured digital speaker. These informative presentations will be offered digitally and available for viewing at the event over the weekend. Stay tuned for more details to come!

Mary McCarthy will also be in attendance, in person, during the festival on both days at the Lewes Historical Society's Museum Store and Information Center located at 302 Savannah Road. McCarthy will be selling sea glass pieces, displaying sea glass educational exhibits, conducting shard identification and helping with the Beach Combing Treasure Contest (3 entries for $5 chance to win money)! Bring your best shards and enter them for the opportunity to win in several categories!

The Lewes Historical Society's historic properties on their main campus, located at 110 Shipcarpenter Street, will be housing various exhibitions from the past three centuries, highlighting sea glass shards and corresponding historic glassware! These fascinating and educational displays will showcase multiple sea glass exhibits from private collections as well as antique glassware! Look for the famous dress made entirely out of sea glass!

Just across the street at the Life Saving Station/Water Front Park, festival-goers will find more displays of antique glass and sea glass, along with food and more vendors! This area can be entered without a specific time, however capacity may be limited at times... Please be patient with us as we navigate these new "waters" to ensure safety and happiness for all!

Bring the kids to the "Kids Area: What is it?" in the Outdoor Garden at the Cannonball House, located at 118 Front Street, to view and discover the origins on various mysterious shards of sea glass. Check back with us for more touch free and safe kids activities!

With greater environmental awareness, there has been a decline in naturally occurring sea glass, creating a great market for expensive and rare pieces. We hope to showcase these unique finds at the festival and offer opportunities for attendees to learn more about the history of sea glass.

Parking shuttles will be running from the Virden Center to LHS Main campus throughout the day. Parking can be found around town but i limited. Please plan to bring cash-less payments.

For more information on the festival, or if you would like to volunteer to help us (We need you!), make this year safe and great, please call: 302-645-7670.

Covid-19 Policy:
The Lewes Historical Society is committed to the safety of our visitors, volunteers, and staff. All event reservations are limited to the maximum number of allowed individuals, practicing social distancing as mandated by Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS). All participants are required to wear a face covering for the duration of the event. Each attendee must maintain a social distance of six (6) feet between individuals of different households. We appreciate your compliance for the health and comfort of your fellow patrons. 

 

Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival