Susan Miller, of Paintsville, Ky., works with Blenko Glass Company’s glassblowers to create a classic glass bottle as the 2025 Festival of Glass begins on Friday, May 2, 2025 in Milton.
Guest artist Matt Urban creates a piece while giving a demonstration to attendees as the 2025 Festival of Glass begins on Friday, May 2, 2025 at Blenko Glass Company in Milton.
Susan Miller, of Paintsville, Ky., works with Blenko Glass Company’s glassblowers to create a classic glass bottle as the 2025 Festival of Glass begins on Friday, May 2, 2025 in Milton.
RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
MILTON — The Blenko Glass Company’s Festival of Glass kicked off its weekend event Friday with jam-packed classes, sales of its special creations and antique molds and food.
The Festival of Glass has been held for about 20 years at the company founded in 1893 and located in Milton since 1921.
Some visitors took classes Friday to create their own 384 Water Bottle, moonshine jug, jewelry or mosaics. Guests can still sign up for the “Stamp Your Suncatcher†experience and the “Design Your Own Mushroom†class Saturday at the facility, if there are openings.
Blenko Glass Company President John Blenko said the best part about the festival is being able to interact with customers from all over the world and share the history and techniques of glassmaking. Approximately 1,000 people signed up for classes for the 2025 festival, he said. This year, the festival had visitors from Oklahoma, New Hampshire and Michigan.
“They actually get to take part in it and have a feel for it. It gives them a little bit of experience to let them know how it’s done so they understand why it takes so many people to make a piece and how long it takes to get it just right,†said Blenko Visitor Center Manager Melissa Shepherd.
Guest artist Matt Urban creates a piece while giving a demonstration to attendees as the 2025 Festival of Glass begins on Friday, May 2, 2025 at Blenko Glass Company in Milton.
Visitors can watch the fun in the a professional glass blowing area, as well.
Miranda Swanson, of Huntington, joined a moonshine jug-making class Friday with her grandmother and sister, who traveled from Mississippi to join in on the festivities.
“I didn’t expect the level of interaction that we get to have,†Swanson said. “I thought we’d be observing more, but you are actually very hands-on through the whole thing, and everybody who worked here was so nice.â€
All three women made a cobalt blue moonshine jug to match, she said. Swanson said her favorite part of the class was learning about the process.
“You have no idea about all of the different steps that go into it and how there are so many different people that touch each piece,†Swanson said. “...[T]hat piece that you have at home — 15 different people made that.â€
The theme of this year’s festival creations is Glassalachia: A Celebration of Appalachian Alchemy, with new pieces such as a crackled fish, a fiddle vase and a Mothman bookend.
Saturday will also feature the Vintage Blenko Glass Sale beginning at 8 a.m., the Garden of Glass Art Market featuring regional Appalachian artists and live alpacas, and chances to win exclusive Blenko pieces. The day will include live music by Darrin Hacquard, Of The Dell, Emmy Davis and Brad Goodall. Local food trucks will also be set up outside Blenko.
