After a successful event last year, Jack Pine Studio, 21397 OH-180, Laurelville, will be hosting its second annual Glass Pumpkin Festival. From Friday until Sunday, people will be able to attend multiple activities and performances, all hosted by Jack Pine Studio.
Last year, the thought of creating the festival occurred when Jack Pine, owner of Jack Pine Studio, wasn’t sure if the Circleville Pumpkin Festival would happen due to the pandemic. Pine knew he had to create an event in its place to keep up business and festivities for the fall season.
Thus, the Glass Pumpkin Festival was created and has a plethora of enjoyments for those in and around Athens. The festival will have a pumpkin patch made up of glass pumpkins, glass blowing, an assortment of food vendors, pumpkin carving, local artists selling their creations and live music from different artists — making it a place for everyone to find something to do.
Adding onto the fall appreciation, Pine has done a “Pumpkin of the Year” for years now and will continue the tradition this weekend.
“This year, we did a white pumpkin, and (it) has confetti, rainbow of colors underneath. It's almost like a party to celebrate. I obviously want to celebrate life,” Pine said. “When I designed it, I thought we'd be out (of) the woods, but we're not quite there yet. I just wanted to say ‘celebrate.’”
As for local artists, there will be several different artists, including but not limited to, Chloe’s Creations, Ed Kitchen Watercolors and Honey Hill Designs.
Don Poff, metal sculptor and owner of Poff Sculptures, will be one of the artists in attendance this weekend and is looking forward to another successful year after his participation last year.
“It’s a great fall event,” Poff said. “The food is good, the art is good and, obviously, the glass pumpkins are great.”
Poff said everyone was anxious to go out and do something last year and anticipates it will be the same this year. He also said Pine has done a great job at growing his business and providing an outlet for people to have fun in a social setting.
Artists have come from in and around Athens to put their work on display and allow the public to purchase from their collections.
While roaming around the festival, there will be live music from various artists playing in the background. Jesse Russell, music coordinator for Jack Pine, has been working hard to bring a range of artists together for the weekend-long event.
Working with kids and teaching them music, Russell said he’ll have a combination of kids he’s taught and veterans playing at the festival.
“It's more of an art thing, so we want people to play their original music and give that kind of vibe of the singer-songwriter, Americana feel,” Russell said.
The originality of the music is hoped to give multiple opportunities for those performing and those watching to really feel the music.
Performances will include the Poverty String Band Trio, Frank Grasso and many more. With much variety, it is hoped there will be a sound for everyone to enjoy.
To further bring people together, Jack Pine will be donating 10% of the sales from “Pumpkin of the Year” to Feed the Second Line. With this organization, every single dollar donated will go directly into the pockets of artists in the New Orleans area.
Reserved parking tickets are for sale for $5. However, if tickets for parking are sold out, there is an additional lot. Pine hopes to be able to provide parking spots for everyone who wants to attend.
The festival will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
“I want people to come to support the artists that are here locally, including us,” Pine said.
