Join us this summer for the Fenton Festival of Glassmaking Aug. 3-5, 2007, as Fenton celebrates 100 years of glassmaking in Williamstown, WV Experience the magic of beautiful handmade glass. Watch up-close and personal as skilled artisans transform fiery molten glass into timeless treasures...right before your eyes. Express your inner artist at one of our workshops. Explore the many treasures awaiting you at the Fenton Festival of Glassmaking. Bring the family and friends... and experience the artistry of handmade glass. Free parking, no gate admission, but some events have fees.* If you need further information, contact Jena Blair at 800-319-7793 x311 or jena@fentongiftshop.com. Let the Countdown Begin:

Check out this super special nut dish — made especially for the Fenton Festival of Glassmaking, August 3-5.

Made the old-fashioned way, by hand, with an historic Fenton mould that originated in the 1930s, this darling nut dish is in one of our newest colors, "Chameleon Green." Why do we call it chameleon, you ask? Because it changes from piece to piece, depending upon the glass temperature and other factors. We never cease to be amazed at the variety of hues!

Pick one you like during the Fenton Festival of Glassmaking in Williamstown August 3-5. Retail $25.00 US.

Santa at the Fenton Festival of Glassmaking … in August!!

That’s right, Santa will be at the Fenton Festival of Glassmaking in Williamstown August 3-5 … and he is really SPECIAL.

At our festival, you’ll be able to order a PERSONALIZED Santa figurine, with the names of family members or friends written on Santa’s list. Fenton decorator Christy Riggs will be available to complete your order, so be sure to ask about her when you’re at the festival.

This Santa figurine is our Burmese glass, made with pure gold to attain the delicate pink blush Fenton collectors love. Designer Robin Spindler created the lovely poinsettia motif and 22k gold accents for his robe, and decorator Pam Lauderman has already handpainted each Santa. But, the list over his arm is blank … waiting to be filled with the names YOU choose!

The Santa shown here was completed with the names of Fenton historian Jim Measell’s granddaughter, daughter-in-law, and son. “Christy does such a great job,” Jim said. “This will be a wonderful gift if I can manage to keep it secret until Christmas!”

Each personalized Santa is $99.50. His list is only so big, however, so decorator Christy Riggs will help you decide how the names can be arranged (Jim wanted them upside down so they’d be at the “top” of Santa’s list). Your Santa will be personalized right before your eyes, and you’ll be able to take him home after the writing is fired for permanence.

For more information, contact Jena Blair at 1-800-319-7793, ext. 311 or jena@fentongiftshop.com.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

5:30pm - 8:00pm

Take a ride on the Fenton Riverboat Dinner Cruise! Accompany Fenton family members on a 2 hour boat ride down the beautiful Ohio River aboard the Valley Gem Sternwheeler.

The boat loads at the Williamstown, WV levee at 5:30 for the 6pm to 8pm trip. A buffet dinner will be served.

Only 220 tickets will be available online for this cruise. Tickets are only $30 plus a small processing fee. MasterCard and Visa accepted.

Due to cancellations, 6 tickets are now available, to sign up, contact Jena Blair at 1-800-319-7793, ext. 311 or email her.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for any glass connoisseur or art enthusiast!

Class # 1: Friday, August 3, 2007, 6:30am - 10:00am

Class # 2: Saturday, August 4, 2007, 6:30am - 10:00am

Some folks think making glass is easy; we think our glassworkers are so darn good it just LOOKS easy...

Here’s your chance to find out! During our Fenton Festival of Glassmaking in Williamstown, W. Va. you can actually make glass! Join skilled Fenton artisans and experience the various skills of glassmaking.

Now you can actually make glass! Join skilled Fenton artisans and experience the various skills of glassmaking. This 3-1/2 hour "school" begins with safety and skills orientation and continues with "hands-on" crafting of molten glass on our Hot Metal floor. Fenton craftsmen will carefully guide you through the most difficult glassmaking skills such as pulling the piece into its finished shape and applying hot bits of molten glass to create decorative effects on the glass. You'll experience how it feels to gather and blow glass! There's more - you will take home a finished off-hand piece that you actually worked on to add to your collection. Of course, you won't mind if we take a little time to cool it off first. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for any glass connoisseur or art enthusiast (must be 18 or older to participate)! And you will take away photos of you in glassmaking action working alongside the Fenton craftsmen.

Given the time and personal hands-on attention this event requires, we can only offer 14 tickets for each class. Tickets are $250 plus a small processing fee. MasterCard and Visa accepted.

For more information, contact Jena Blair at 1-800-319-7793, ext. 311 or jena@fentongiftshop.com.

Festivities include:*

• Master Craftsman glassmaking demonstrations - 9am, 10am,11am 1pm, 2pm, 3pm daily (no reservation required): See master glass artisan Dave Fetty and his colleagues work their magic! Glassblowing and offhand work are featured in this interesting and exciting demonstration. You’ll be amazed when you see these highly-skilled glassworkers in action.

• Custom glass decorating by Fenton artists 10am to 4pm daily, register at welcome tent (no reservation required): Consult with talented Fenton artists on the custom design of a handpainted piece of Fenton glass just for you. We’ll help you select an item that will bring joy to all who see it in your home.

• Glassmaking schools: Here’s your chance for a real “hands-on” experience making Fenton glass! You’ll get classroom instruction before heading to our glass production area to work with members of our glass production team. You’ll use they tools they use to try your skills at glassblowing and other exciting tasks. Given the time and personal hands-on attention this event requires, we can only offer 14 tickets for each class. Tickets are $250 plus a small processing fee. For more information and to order a ticket online, click here.

• Lampwork, etching, carving, etc. demonstrations, and more Friday and Saturday 10am to 7pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm (no reservation required).

• Free special factory tours - 30 min. tours - Friday and Saturday 11am to 3pm (no reservation required): Take the tour people travel miles to see. You’ll be “up close and personal” as Fenton glassworkers make pressed and blown glassware, using tools and techniques that are essentially unchanged from those of a century ago.

• Glass decorating workshops - 1 hr. workshops Friday and Saturday 10am to 7pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm (no reservation required): Try your hand at decorating a Fenton glass ornament or other available item. Our staff will help you choose patterns and colors, but every brushstroke will be yours.

• Glass ID with Jim Measell and Nancy Fenton - Aug. 3 Noon to 2pm (no reservation required): What did you find in the attic? Is it Fenton glass? Fenton director of design Nancy Fenton and historian James Measell will do their best to tell you all about it … whatever it is! (limit 3 pieces per person, please).

• Fenton family signing events (no reservation required): Fenton family members, as
  scheduled for various times, will sign your Fenton glass items (limit 3 pieces per person, please; no “seconds” will be signed).

• Aug. 3: Christine Fenton 10am to 11am. Doll signing w/Shelley Fenton Ash, Christine, and Lynn Fenton Erb 11am to Noon. Scott Fenton and Lynn 3pm to 5pm.

• Aug. 4: Randy Fenton and Shelley 11am to 1pm. Tom Fenton and Mike Fenton 2pm to 4pm

• Aug. 5:  George Fenton and Nancy Noon to 2pm.

• Book signing with the entire Fenton Family on Aug. 3 at 9am to 10am: Fenton family members will sign copies of our special “coffee table” book published in 2005 or other Fenton history books (books only; no glass signing during this event).

• Fenton history with Jim Measell from 10am to 11am on Aug. 5 (no reservation required): Hear some great stories and learn about Fenton through the years with Fenton historian James Measell.

• A look at New Fenton items with Nancy Fenton from 10am to 11am on Aug. 4 (no reservation required): Learn about Fenton’s new product development process from director of design Nancy Fenton. Find out what goes into glass design and how production problems crop up. You might even get a look at something new for 2008!

• Special Frank M. Fenton glass collectors auction on Sat. Aug. 4 at 6pm, preview 4-6pm: Auctioneer Randy Clark and his staff will offer glassware from the estate of Frank M. Fenton to the highest bidder in this no reserve auction. Auction will include 275 lots.

• Fenton Jeopardy, Aug. 3 at 2pm and Aug. 5 at 3pm, Fenton bingo Aug. 3 at 11am and Aug. 5 at Noon, etc.: Fun games are a daily feature at the Fenton Festival of glassmaking. Check the schedule for what’s happening and when!

• Special children's activities - daily, great games, marbles, more...

• Free entertainment daily

• Good food and much more!

• Kick off the weekend with a Riverboat ride with the Fenton family on Thursday evening, Aug.  2 - To reserve your ticket, click here.

Dates and Time:

Fri. Aug. 3 through Sun. Aug. 5, 2007
Hours of Event: Fri. and Sat. 8am to 8pm / Sun. 9am to 5pm

In addition, our annual summer Tent Sale will run June 22 - Aug. 5.

*Information subject to change without notice.

Calendar of Events *Schedule subject to change without notice.

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