Fall gets a little hotter in Dearborn this October as the Glass Academy opens its doors for the 18th Annual Glass Pumpkin Fest Show & Sale, October 10–11 and October 17–18, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Inside the Glass Academy’s 14,000-square-foot working glass studio, guests can watch live glassblowing demonstrations while shopping an extensive collection of handmade glass pumpkins and seasonal décor created by the studio’s team of artists. Admission and parking are FREE, and the event is family-friendly.
For 18 years, Glass Pumpkin Fest has drawn visitors from throughout Michigan, neighboring states and Canada who come to see glassblowing firsthand and search the studio for a pumpkin of their own. No two pumpkins are ever exactly alike. Styles range from traditional fall oranges to the Glass Academy’s colorful unique patterns and styles, unique to the studio: Apple Cider Amber, Van Gogh’s, Sugar, Fantasy and other original Glass Academy designs, with pumpkins starting at $42 to jumbo styles that range in the $400’s.
The 2026 Signature Pumpkin: Frosted Lantern
Each Frosted Lantern Pumpkin begins as a handblown transparent clear and white glass pumpkin before receiving a matte, sandblasted finish. The result is an understated white pumpkin by day that transforms when illuminated from within.
With the exception of the smallest Pumpkinette, Frosted Lantern pumpkins are created with an opening in the bottom for a tea light or string lights. Warm amber lighting gives the pumpkin a soft autumn glow, while bright white lights create an entirely different look. Each pumpkin is handmade individually in Dearborn, so variations in shape, size and character are part of the finished piece.
The Frosted Lantern Collection is available for presale online and will be featured during Glass Pumpkin Fest, where visitors can select their individual pumpkin in person.
A portion of proceeds from the 2026 Signature Pumpkin Collection will benefit Dress for Success Michigan, an organization helping women achieve economic independence through professional attire, interview preparation, job retention, entrepreneurship and career support.
The Glass Academy will also kick off pumpkin season online with a special Gathering Point: Pumpkin Edition live glassblowing show on Tuesday, September 29, from 6–8 p.m. on YouTube and Facebook. Viewers can watch pumpkins being made in real time and shop special pumpkins and handmade drinkware during the broadcast.
EVENT DETAILS:
18th Annual Glass Pumpkin Fest Show & Sale
October 10–11 & October 17–18, 2026 | 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Glass Academy | 25331 Trowbridge St., Dearborn, MI 48124
Free admission | Free parking | All ages | Live glassblowing demonstrations
Pumpkins starting at $42
About the Glass Academy:
Founded by artists Chris Nordin and Michelle Plucinsky, the Glass Academy is a family-run glassblowing studio in Dearborn, Michigan. Its 14,000-square-foot facility is home to a working hot shop, gallery, hands-on glassblowing classes, private and corporate events, and The Michigan Room. The Glass Academy team creates its work by hand in Dearborn and shares the glassblowing process with audiences both in the studio and through its weekly live YouTube show, The Gathering Point.
