Refract the Seattle glass Experience is an annual festival of glass put on by Visit Seattle and Chihuly Garden and glass. In 2025, this festival takes place from Oct 16-19 starting with Gather, an opening night party to kick off the celebration. (I went for the first time thanks to an invite, and it was such a fun event, I’ll have to remember it for next year)
There are over 700 glass artists living in Washington State, with 100 studios and we also have the renowned Pilchuk Glass School here too. This glass school was cofounded by Dale Chihuly, a glass artist from Tacoma who has recognizable glass work all around the world (we most recently saw some of his works unexpectedly at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas). Refract celebrates and highlights the work of glass artists in our area and it’s a fun way to learn more about it.
During the Refract weekend, there are open studios and glass demonstrations not only in Seattle but in surrounding areas. Everything is listed on the Refract website. I wish I knew earlier to sign up for the amazing free private Chihuly Boathouse tours. These are truly special tours and just one more thing I’ll try to remember before October next year. This would be a dream.
Are you a fan of glass art? Have you been to Refract in Seattle?
PS. We also saw a wild owl in the glass gardens while visiting Chihuly Garden and Glass and this was also a dream come true.
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)