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The North American Sea Glass Association will bring its annual festival to the East Coast for the first time Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, in Lewes. The Virden Center at the University of Delaware campus in Lewes will host this third annual North American Sea Glass Festival, drawing beachcombers from around the world.
More than 30 artisans who work with sea glass will show their wares and collections. Participants from as far away as Spain, Scotland and Hawaii are expected. On Saturday, local glass experts will be on hand to identify and date shards for visitors. Lectures will be offered throughout the festival, and a documentary on sea glass will premiere.
Sunday will feature the Shard of the Year contest, which will award a $1,000 check for the most beautiful or rare piece of sea glass presented for judging. The 2007 winning shard, a red piece of Mediterranean sea glass entered by a Colorado collector, will be on display much of this summer and early fall at the Lewes gift shop, Just for You.
Festival passes for the weekend will cost $5. The North American Sea Glass Association (NASGA) will share a percentage of the admission proceeds with two other nonprofits that focus on shoreline preservation: The Ocean Conservancy and Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park.
To avoid possible long lines on opening day, festival goers can prepurchase passes at the Just for You store in Lewes and at Odyssey, in nearby Rehoboth Beach.
For festival goers coming from the New Jersey shore, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry will offer foot passengers a drop-off service to the Virden Center, which is about three miles from the ferry terminal. Passengers should request the service when they book their ferry reservations at 800-643-3779.
The term “sea glass” refers to pieces of old, discarded glass that have been naturally tumbled and weathered along the shore. Its beautiful frosted patina and range of colors, in addition to the rarity and history of older pieces, have fueled the popularity of sea glass collecting and the use of the shards in jewelry, mosaics and other arts and crafts.
Collector Mary Beth Beuke, president of NASGA, says the annual festivals have the feel of a family reunion.
“People from all walks of life can share their love of the beachcombing experience and these beautiful little gifts from the sea,” she said.
“You might meet an executive, a physician, a grade-school student, an artist- all of them collectors who share an affinity for sea glass. A friend of mine who’s a brain surgeon, for example, really enjoys meeting other collectors and seeing what the artists and craftspeople have created. You can count on feeling lots of creative energy flowing and hearing some fascinating stories throughout the weekend.”
Many of today’s collectors are drawn by the ecological allure - recycling at its best - and by its appeal as an outdoor activity that brings families together across generations. Beuke says part of the fun of the national festival is watching people who have never been interested in sea glass before get hooked. “Maybe they come to the festival with a friend or spouse just to check it out,” she said. “And they end up falling in love with the whole idea of sea glass.”
For more information on sea glass and the festival, visit www.seaglassassociation.org.
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