International Sea Glass Festivals
Two-day sea and beach glass festivals with artisans, speakers, sea glass contest, and more!
The International Sea Glass Association organizes the premier sea and beach glass events in the country, celebrating the history and beauty of genuine sea and beach glass. With talented artists and jewelers, knowledgeable speakers, the Sea Glass Contest, Collectors Showcase, and an opportunity to connect with fellow sea glass enthusiasts, International Sea Glass Festivals are always unforgettable.
Join us at a festival in 2024!
- The 18th International Sea Glass Festival will be held at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut, on July 27–28, 2024. Purchase tickets and RSVP on Facebook ›
- The 19th International Sea Glass Festival will be held at Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion in Seattle, Washington, on August 10–11, 2024. Purchase Tickets and RSVP on Facebook ›
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Tickets
The 18th International Sea Glass Festival in Mystic, Connecticut
One-of-a-Kind Jewelry • Décor • Art • Lectures • Sea Glass Contest
You can purchase General Admission Tickets to Mystic Seaport Museum, which cover admission to the Festival for two days. Tickets provide admission to both days of the festival, lectures, and the Sea Glass Contest, as well as the entire Mystic Seaport Museum grounds. Mystic Seaport Museum members get free admission to the festival and grounds. Tickets are also available at Mystic Seaport Museum during festival weekend. This event is open to the public.
The 19th International Sea Glass Festival in Seattle, Washington
You can purchase tickets for the Seattle festival. You can select one-day or two-day tickets with an option for a VIP ticket, which gives you early entry on Saturday and a gift. Tickets will also be available at Fisher Pavilion during festival weekend. Children under 12 enter free in Seattle. This event is open to the public.
We will be raffling off a number of tickets so please be sure to subscribe to our email list to be notified about how to enter.
Festival Schedule
The Festival is a weekend of sea and beach glass!
Saturday
- 9 am VIP Early Entry (Seattle only)
- 10 am Festival opens
- 11 am Presentation
- Mystic: Roxie Zwicker
- Seattle: Alan Rammer
- 2 pm Presentation
- Mystic: Richard Lamotte
- Seattle: TBD
- 5 pm Festival closes for the day
Evening reception and member meeting for Professional Members, Community Members, Collectors, Speakers, and Volunteers.
Sunday
- 10 am Festival opens
- 11 am Presentation
- Mystic: Richard Lamotte
- Seattle: Mary Beth Beuke
- 1 pm Sea Glass Contest entries close
- 3 pm Sea Glass Contest awards
- 5 pm Festival closes
Vendors
International Sea Glass Festivals feature the beautiful work of our lineup of talented artists, jewelers, and designers.
Aloha Sea Glass 🌲 • Beach Baubles ⚓️ • Beachcombing Magazine 🌲 • Beachcombings Studio ⚓️ • Beach Glass Bingo ⚓️🌲 • Bead Boutique / Tricia Hall Jewelry ⚓️ • Bling Beach Glass Windows ⚓️🌲 • Cape Cod Gypsea ⚓️ • Cottage Industry ⚓️ • DMG Creations ⚓️ • Facets Artisan Jewelry ⚓️🌲 • Fairyland Glade ⚓️ • Frosted Trash ⚓️ • Funky Bijoux ⚓️ • Gull Cottage Crafts ⚓️ • Heart to Heart Designs ⚓️ • HKM Jewelry ⚓️ • HL Sea and Beach Glass Jewelry ⚓️ • Kate Samson Design ⚓️🌲 • Lovely Glassworks ⚓️ • Maraonda ⚓️ • Marooned Crab Creations ⚓️🌲 • Mint Jellies 🌲 • Ocean Sea Glass Creations ⚓️ • Prime Hook Beach Studio ⚓️ • Rainbow by The Sea Jewelry Designs ⚓️ • Reenie Seaglass Design ⚓️ • Riptide Sea Glass Jewelry ⚓️ • Rubtoys Sea Glass ⚓️🌲 • Sea Cairns ⚓️🌲 • Sea Gals Gallery of Delaware ⚓️ • Sea Glass Compositions ⚓️🌲 • Sea Glass Designs ⚓️ • Sea Glass Grotto ⚓️ • Sea Glass Heart Art ⚓️ • Sea Glass Jewelry and Art by Nora ⚓️
⚓️ Mystic Vendor 🌲 Seattle Vendor
Please view the vendor list to learn more about the Professional Members who will be participating in this year’s festivals.
We have openings for vendors at the 19th International Sea Glass Festival in Seattle and we are accepting applications for the waiting list for the 18th International Sea Glass Festival in Mystic. Learn about applying to the International Sea Glass Festival.
Collectors Showcase
The Collectors Showcase features the extensive collections of sea glass collectors. Sea glass, beach pottery, sea marbles, antique bottles, and more treasures found on the beach are featured at the festival. In Mystic, collectors will show their finds on Saturday in Greenman’s Landing. In Seattle, collectors will display their collections on Saturday and Sunday in Fisher Pavilion. If you are interested in showing your collection at an International Sea Glass Festival, please complete the International Sea Glass Festival Collector Application today.
Presentations
Join us for educational presentations about sea and beach glass, local coastal information, and more from knowledgeable beachcombing experts.
2024 Presentations
History, Mystery and New England Sea Glass
Roxie Zwicker, Saturday, July 27, 2024, 11 a.m., Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, Connecticut
Walking the beaches of New England one is exploring the shadows of 400 years of the region’s colonial settlement and picking up a piece of sea glass or pottery connects us to the history and evolution the cities and towns. From shipwrecks, relentless storms and spooky maritime mysteries Roxie will share some of her favorite locations to beachcomb with the fascinating and unforgettable stories behind them. With a fun and well researched presentation guests will be excited to plan their next memorable sea glass adventure.
How it All Began: Two decades of sea glass
Richard LaMotte, Saturday, July 27, 2024, 2 p.m. and Sunday, July 28, 2024, 11 a.m., Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, Connecticut
When the first sea glass festival took place in Rockport, Massachusetts, a small but excited community began its journey. It was October of 2004. In June of that year, Richard LaMotte launched the first collector’s book specifically for beachcombers who wanted to learn everything they could about the shards within their own collections. His original research not only helped educate collectors but also set the standard for sea glass rarity and value. Richard will share a historical and entertaining look at our industry along with many unique inspirations included in his award-winning book, Pure Sea Glass.
Glass Fishing Floats of the World: Their history, uses, and how they end up as beach glass
Alan Rammer, Saturday, August 10, 2024, Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion, Seattle, Washington
Many people associate glass fishing floats with Japan and other Asian countries but did you know they originated in Norway and other Scandanavian countries in about 1840. Many of these designs were copied by Japan beginning about 1910. Other countries followed right into the 80’s. Their shapes and sizes tell us which fisheries they were used for. Considering that they were produced for utilitarian purposes with no thought to being collectible, many of them now command prices in the hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Come and learn what makes a common float a collectible one.
The Sea Glass of North America’s West Coast and Islands; History, identification and tall tales
Mary Beth Beuke, August 11, 2024, 11 a.m., Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion, Seattle, Washington
Pacific Northwest native Mary Beth “MB” Beuke has traversed North America’s West Coast for over 30 years. Part of her varied and historic sea glass collection spans shores from Mexico to Kodiak Island Alaska and many islands in between. MB, has presented at museums, colleges, libraries and more. She’s studied the history and identification of rare pieces and will share exciting stories, extreme beachcombing tales, and will identify everything from beads, to stoppers, to patterned pieces, and more. Her award winning photography will show sea glass color rarity, sea marbles, antique glassware, uv glowers etc. MB will also share beachcombing tips and hunter’s best practices.
2024 Presenters
Richard LaMotte
In June of 2004, Richard LaMotte released the first reference book for sea glass collectors, Pure Sea Glass. It covered the science behind the formation of sea glass, glass history, its origins and colors, details on sea glass rarity and helped guide collectors to do their own sea glass identification. His research on glass, especially bottle shard dating and identification, allowed beachcombers of all ages to understand the rarity of the sea glass gems within their own collections. He assisted the late Joanne Schreiber with the first ever Northeast Sea Glass Festival, hosted in October 2004. Richard later helped found the North American Sea Glass Association (now ISGA) in 2005. Fellow co-founder Mary Beth Beuke and Richard then co-hosted the first National Sea Glass festival in 2006, held in Santa Cruz, California. Richard lives on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland with his wife Stephanie. For forty years he has worked for a water analysis company started by his grandfather in 1919. His research on how sea glass is formed was the first of its kind. Learn more ›
View Richard’s presentations in Mystic, Connecticut:
- Saturday, July 27, 2024, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, July 28, 2024, 11 a.m.
Roxie Zwicker
New England’s Mystery Maven, Roxie Zwicker, has been entertaining the locals, visitors from away, and curious souls since 1994. Her company, located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has been offering award-winning tours, presentations, and special events since 2002, based on New England folklore and mysteries. Roxie is the published author of ten books that delve into the region’s history and lore. Her most recent book is New England Sea Glass, A Vibrant History, which covers the maritime history and mystery of beach-found treasures in New England. ”Wicked Curious” is Roxie’s podcast available on all major podcast platforms. Her extensive collection of sea glass gathered over 30 years takes up an entire room in her house and her website can be found at newenglandcuriosities.com.
View Roxie’s presentation in Mystic, Connecticut:
- Saturday, July 27, 2024, 11 a.m.
Mary Beth Beuke
A Pacific Northwest native, Mary Beth ”MB” Beuke has grown up along and extensively traveled the North American continent’s west coast and more. She has spent a lifetime along the shore, living, working, studying, and recreating on beaches worldwide. MB is the author of the best-selling book The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass, as well as being a founding board member and past president of NASGA. She speaks around the country at beachcombing events, museums, and colleges. MB founded the West Coast Sea Glass company in 1998. She has studied jewelry design, metal smithing and has been creating wearable art for over forty years. MB’s college education in graphics reproduction and photography was a natural fit as she’s been drawn to the visual arts and creating art with her hands. Prior to launching West Coast Sea Glass, MB worked as a semi-professional photographer, owned her own dark room, and has also taught photo lab work at the college level. She has traveled much, using her camera as her window to the world, won two national photography competitions and now uses sea glass as a vibrant and colorful photo subject. After years of collecting sea glass and studying its conditioning, history, and rarity, she learned that what she had was a treasure trove. Her connection to kindred beachcomber spirits from around the world has enabled her to view and identify pieces from every continent and most coastal countries. Learn more ›
View Mary Beth’s presentation in Seattle, Washington:
- Sunday, August 11, 2024 11 a.m.
Alan Rammer
Alan has been a float collector for 54 years after finding his first floats on the island of Kauai in 1970. He became close friends with Amos Wood, to many the godfather of all glass float collectors, in 1971 when he began attending the University of Washington. Just before Amos’ passing in 1989, Amos gave him his contact list and asked him to bear the torch with collectors around the world. He and his late best friend Stuart Farnsworth co-authored two price guides for these glass gems from the high seas that are now out of print and very hard to find. Alan is the founder of the Ocean Shores Beachcombers and Glass Float Expo and had been involved with the festival in Seaside Oregon previously. He is a retired community outreach and environmental educator of for marine issues for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and was the 2012 National Marine Educator. He has beachcombed 5 of our 7 continents and enjoys meeting fellow beach enthusiasts wherever he goes. Jim Lynch, the author of The Highest Tide shadowed Alan on the job for a year and even dedicated one of the characters to him. The book has been adapted for a movie and Alan is left wondering who will play his character. Learn more ›
View Alan’s presentation in Seatte, Washington:
- Saturday, August 10, 2024
If you are interested in speaking at an International Sea Glass Festival, please complete the International Sea Glass Festival Speaker Application today.
Volunteers
The International Sea Glass Association is made possible by our volunteers at the festival, our Community Members, and our Professional Members. Thank you to everyone who has applied to be a volunteer this year. We have filled all the slots for volunteers in Mystic. If you are interested in volunteering in Seattle, please complete the International Sea Glass Festival Volunteer Application today.
Sea Glass Contest
Think you found the best marble, bottle stopper, whimsical toy, frosted bottle, historical, or other amazing beach treasure this year? Be sure to bring your stash of finds and enter to win cash prizes during the Sea Glass Contests in Mystic and Seattle. The International Sea Glass Association invites collectors to enter their favorite sea and beach glass finds in the Sea Glass Contests.
Our judges award winners in the following categories: Find of the Year, Frosted Bottles, Bottle Stopper, Pottery/Ceramics, Unique Find, Historical Find, Marbles/Buttons/Beads, and Vendor Entry. Entry cards are sold at the show on Saturday and Sunday. Each entry must be authentic, unaltered, and found in the body of water named on your entry card. You or someone in your immediate family must have found the item. No purchased items allowed. Winners are announced on Sunday. See photos from the 17th International Sea Glass Contest.
Judges reserve the right to award multiple winners in a single category, omit awarding winners in every category, and award winners in categories not listed above.
A portion of the proceeds from these events are donated to local non-profit organizations.
The International Sea Glass Festival is held in different locations around the United States. We welcome Professional Members from all over the world to participate. It is an opportunity for our Professional Members to meet other sea and beach glass enthusiasts, for beachcombers to learn from our lecture series, and for ISGA to further its mission to educate the public about real sea and beach glass. Past festivals have been held in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Learn more about past Sea Glass Festivals ›
All dates, times, vendors, and speakers are subject to change. The International Sea Glass Association reserves the right to cancel the festival in the event of extreme weather or other natural disaster.