The eighth annual GlassFest, May 25–28, 2017, is a celebration of glass and the fire arts in America’s Crystal City. Presented by Corning’s Gaffer District and Chemung Canal Trust Company, GlassFest draws thousands of visitors to downtown Corning each year on Memorial Day weekend.
GlassFest kicks off on Thursday, May 25, with the Glass Ribbon Cutting ceremony held at The Corning Museum of Glass at 5:30pm, followed by a special edition 2300°: GlassFest party from 6–8pm. The festival continues in Corning’s Gaffer District for three more days of live glassmaking demonstrations, glass exhibits and artwork, wine and craft beer tasting, live music, a spectacular fireworks display, family-friendly activities, an 8K race, museums and galleries, and special shopping and dining promotions for the weekend. There is no entrance fee and unless otherwise noted, most activities are free.
Mike Wayne, Senior Vice President & Director of Marketing, Chemung Canal Trust Company shares, “Chemung Canal Trust Company is proud to continue our role as the presenting sponsor for GlassFest. We believe that, thanks to the dedicated leadership of the Gaffer District and with the added support of a long list of other partners, this event has become the premier “family-fun” event within our region. What was once just an idea on paper has certainly blossomed into a wonderful weekend celebrating the history and artistry of glass within our community.”
Watch live glassmaking demonstrations featuring gaffers from The Corning Museum of Glass on stage in Centerway Square on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
New to GlassFest this year, visitors can attend the Illuminata Stroll & Reception and watch as GlassFest Featured Artist Julie Conway works at the bench in one of our local hot glass studios. Conway’s studio practice is based in Seattle, WA where she collaborates with highly talented teams of glassmakers and fabricators to help her execute her art glass lighting commissions. Her work can be seen in Google HQ buildings, Walt Disney Epcot Center, Four Seasons and Hilton hotels, among many others.
This year at GlassFest, MASTERPIX™ Fine Glass Prints is proud to sponsor the MASTERPIX™ Fine Glass Prints Scavenger Hunt and is giving away photos printed on Corning® Gorilla® Glass that feature scenic images of Downtown Corning. The grand prize giveaways will be glass prints of various sizes with display stands, plus MASTERPIX will print a photo of your choice in a matching size.
The Finger Lakes Wine and Craft Beer Tasting event is Friday night, May 26 from 5–8pm, featuring more than 25 local wineries and breweries. Tickets are $15 per person, which includes both a collectible wine and beer glass. Adults must be 21 years or older to participate.
“GlassFest is everything we envisioned when we launched 8 years ago, an event that celebrates our history and future as the Crystal City. It is 4 days of extraordinary, memory-making fun for every age surrounded by the spectacular art, science, and innovation of glass. It’s impossible to resist once you have experienced it!” said Coleen Fabrizi, Executive Director of Corning’s Gaffer District.
Rock The Park, sponsored by Simmons-Rockwell Auto Dealerships, is the GlassFest signature FREE concert series on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Live music will be featured in Riverfront Centennial Park all three days. Best of the Eagles tribute will perform on Friday night at 8:30pm; British Rock Royalty, highlighting music by The Who, Pink Floyd, Queen and Led Zeppelin is featured on Saturday at 8pm, and on Sunday, Nashville recording artists Trick Pony will take the stage at 3pm. DownBeat Percussion, the official Buffalo Bills drumline, as well as many local bands will perform throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday.
Throughout Saturday and Sunday, visitors can wander along Market Street for works of art by local and regional artists, and take advantage of special promotions offered by businesses and restaurants in Corning’s Gaffer District. Families will enjoy plenty of fun activities including face painting, inflatables, a spectacular fireworks display Saturday night, and much more.
At The Corning Museum of Glass, visitors can explore the newly-added Contemporary Art + Design Wing, which features a 26,000-square-foot day-lit gallery building, showcasing the best of the last 25 years in glass. During GlassFest visitors can view the newly opened exhibit, Tiffany’s Glass Mosaics.The wing also houses the Amphitheater Hot Shop which is the world’s largest space for glassblowing demonstrations and live glass design sessions, accommodating 500 people.
GlassFest is proudly sponsored by Chemung Canal Trust Company, Simmons-Rockwell Auto Dealerships, World Kitchen, Corning Enterprises, WETM-TV, WINK 106, MASTERPIX™, the Radisson Hotel Corning, and Corning Museum of Glass.
For more information on GlassFest in Corning visit GlassFest.org or like Corning’s Gaffer District on Facebook.
