The International Sea Glass Festival is the premier sea and beach glass event 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, and an opportunity to connect with fellow sea glass enthusiasts, the annual Sea Glass Festival is always an unforgettable weekend.
The International Sea Glass Festival is held in different locations around the United States. 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 Connecticut, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and California. ISGA typically announces the location of the upcoming festival at the beginning of the year.
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Highlights from the 2023 International Sea Glass Festival
All photos ©Joe Michael, Mystic Seaport Museum.
Learn more about past Sea Glass Festivals ›
Lectures • Exhibitors • Jewelry • Décor • Art • Sea Glass Contest
Typical Festival Schedule
The Festival is a weekend of sea and beach glass! Professional and Community Members are invited to festival weekend meetups and events.
Saturday
10 am Festival Opens
11:30 am Presentation
2 pm Presentation
5 pm Festival Closes for the day
Reception and meeting for ISGA Professional Members, Community Members, and Volunteers.
Sunday
10 am Festival Opens
11 am Presentation
1 pm Sea Glass Contest Entries Close
3 pm Sea Glass Contest Awards
5 pm Festival Closes. See you next year!
View the 2023 Sea Glass Festival program (PDF) ›
Vendors
The festival features the beautiful work our lineup of talented artists, jewelers, and designers at this premier sea glass event in the nation. Only ISGA Professional Members can apply to be part of the International Sea Glass Association.
Learn more about ISGA Professional Membership ›
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 on both days of the festival.
Presentations
Join us for educational presentations about sea and beach glass, local coastal information, and more from knowledgeable beachcombing experts.
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 Annual Sea Glass Contest. The International Sea Glass Association invites collectors to enter their favorite sea and beach glass finds in the Sea Glass Contest.
Our judges award winners in the following categories:
- Find of the Year
- Frosted Bottles
- Pottery/Ceramics
- Whimsical/Toys
- Bottle Stopper
- Most Unusual
- Historical
- Art Glass
- Marbles
- Buttons/Beads
- Figural
- Vendor Entry
Guidelines:
- Entry cards are sold at the show on Saturday and Sunday.
- 3 entries per card: $5 per card
- Indicate the body of water where the piece was found.
- Enter your pieces on Sunday before 1:00 pm.
- 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.
- Announcement of winners will take place on Sunday afternoon.
Prizes:
Winners of the Sea Glass Contest will take home cash prizes ($250 for Find of the Year winner and $50 for winner in each category) and their pieces will be featured in Beachcombing Magazine. See photos from past festivals › Good luck!
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 this event are donated to local non-profit organizations.
Volunteers
The International Sea Glass Association is made possible by our volunteers at the festival, our Community Members, and our Professional Members..