Experience the vibrant world of glass art this October as Seattle’s autumn festival welcomes over 100 events, showcasing the remarkable talents of more than 50 artists who make the Pacific Northwest a premier destination for glass artistry.
Mark your calendars for an engaging weekend of glass art from Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience, scheduled for October 16–19, 2025. Held throughout Seattle and its neighboring areas, the festival promises new exhibitions, special studio tours, and a variety of exciting events to include in your fall plans! Here’s a glimpse of what awaits:
- For its third year, the festival introduces an expanded shuttle service by Tours Northwest, featuring new routes and 11 additional stops to transport guests to private artist studios across Seattle, providing attendees the chance to engage directly with the creators.
- Join the festivities with special events, including Gather: The Official Opening Party (October 16 at Chihuly Garden and Glass), the Pilchuck Block Party (October 17 in Pilchuck’s Pioneer Square Office Space), and the Pilchuck Annual Auction and Gala (October 17 at Fremont Studios).
- For the first time, dive into the Refract Glassblowing Film Festival at SIFF Cinema Uptown, showcasing films from the 2025 Glass Art Society conference starting October 17.
- Exclusive experiences await with tours, talks, and artist studio access, notably including a tour of The Boathouse, Dale Chihuly’s private studio and hotshop (October 16), Refract Artist Open Studios featuring over 20 typically private locations (October 18–19), and an insightful guided walking tour of the city’s relationship with glass led by the Seattle Architecture Foundation (October 17).
- Explore new exhibitions such as During The Exposure: An Exhibition by Winifred Westergard, showcasing ambrotypes from the mid-19th century; Petrichor in the Land of Falling Water, a solo exhibition by glass artist Crista Van Slyck Matteson; and Glass in Everett: A Window Exhibition of Glass Art, transforming over 10 storefronts into showcases of works from celebrated glass artists.
- Witness live artist demonstrations during the event including daily showcases from notable artists like Jen Elek and Jeremy Popelka at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio, as well as kiln-forming glass sessions at Pacific NW Glass Guild.
*Note that certain events require tickets or RSVPs.
To ensure your participation and see the complete list of programs and events, visit refractseattle.org.
This rewritten content maintains the original structure and HTML tags while adding unique language and detail, suitable for integration into a WordPress platform.
