Celebrate Sea Glass and Coastal Arts at the Lewes Historical Society's 17th Annual Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival.

Over 70 sea glass and coastal-themed artists from the United States will be on campus to showcase their unique art forms including jewelry, home decor, wood and metal sculpture, ceramics, photography, and paintings. 

Bring your smiles and favorite pieces of sea glass to show our shard identification experts from the Delmarva Antique Bottle Club, who will be at the festival the entire weekend. Discover the origin and history of your pieces! A collection of antique glass will be on display and for sale. Take the opportunity to walk through an amazing collection of sea glass and learn from the educational displays and exhibits!

Observe how glass objects are made with hourly glass-blowing demonstrations with Luckie, scheduled throughout the festival.

Expand your knowledge of sea glass, and our own local Mid-Atlantic coast by attending interesting and educational presentations throughout the weekend on subjects such as shipwrecks, sea glass identification, and ocean and bay conservation. 

Scheduled presenters include:

Saturday, June 1, at 11 a.m.

Devon Filicicchia, Site Supervisor of the Zwaanendael Museum, Lewes, DE

The History and Mystery of the Roosevelt Inlet Shipwreck

This presentation is a hands-on, interactive session on the Roosevelt Inlet shipwreck that was uncovered in the fall of 2004 off the coast of Lewes. Filicicchia will be bringing objects, from the more than 60,000, unearthed during the archeological study of the 18th-century vessel. The collection of artifacts from this ship is one of the largest maritime archeological collections in the region.

Saturday, June 1, at 2 p.m.

Cesar Williams-Padin, President of the International Sea Glass Association

Real vs. Fake Sea Glass… How to tell the difference in an Internet World

Sea glass artist and President of the International Sea Glass Association Board of Directors, César Williams-Padin will share his knowledge and educate sea glass enthusiasts on the value of “real vs. fake” pure sea glass.

Sunday, June 2, 12-noon

Mark Carter, Director of Development for the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays

and Anna Fagen, Deputy Director for the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays

A Watershed-wide Perspective of the Inland Bays: The hidden science surrounding you during your walk on the beach
Learn how our prominent community and scientific leader, The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, is hard at work researching our surrounding waterways, restoring the health of our bays, and educating the public. Mark Carter and Anna Fagan will present you with an overview of the work of the Center and their various programs & projects. Some items of discussion will include species research, "living shorelines", oysters, and more.

Sunday, June 2, at 2 p.m.

Heidi Blake, Sea glass collector, Artist and Educator
Currituck, NC

History on the beach: It didn't just get there on its own - Stories of beachcombing from Iceland to Panama
What is the difference in what you are finding on the beach around the globe?
Artist and collector, Heidi Blake will share pieces of beach treasure she's collected over the last 50 years from various places around the world from the shores of Iceland to Panama.

Live Music will be presented throughout the Festival by these talented musicians:

Saturday, June 1st:

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Jazzmen

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Corey Jenkins

Sunday, June 2nd:

9 a.m. to noon - Ben Davis

Noon to 4 p.m. - Rick and Regina

Bring your family and enjoy a fun, interesting, and entertaining time! Visit our Children's Area, just inside the gate, and engage in historic and educational activities that your kids will love!

Don't forget to buy a raffle ticket for our amazing selection of items provided by the artists at the Festival!

You don't have to go far for some delicious food, provided throughout the weekend by the famous Taco Reho food truck, the Sussex Gardeners, and the non-profit, Nurses and Neighbors. 

Street Parking is available. There will not be a shuttle service. Please leave your furry friends at home.