GlassFest 2027

GlassFest is a three-day outdoor festival celebrating glass, fine art, specialty craft, food, and music in Corning, New York—America’s “Crystal City," home to world headquarters of Corning Inc. and the renowned Corning Museum of Glass.  

Now in its 18th year, GlassFest will be held June 18–20, 2027. The festival is held along historic Market Street in Corning’s Gaffer District, the city’s primary commercial corridor, surrounded by galleries, shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions. 

Event Dates: June 18–20, 2027 
Friday, June 18, 11 AM-7 PM
Saturday, June 19, 11 AM-7 PM
Sunday, June 20, 11 AM-5 PM 

Location: Market Street, Corning, NY 

Application Deadline: April 30, 2027 

Early Application Incentive: Applications submitted by December 16, 2026 will have the application fee waived. 

Vendor Categories: 
Fire Artists (Glass, Ceramics, Metals, and Jewelry) 
Fine Artists 
Craft/Gourmet Packaged Foods/General Merchandise Vendor 
Onsite Preparation Food Vendor-Booth or Food Truck 

Fire Arts Award Showcase: 
Juried Fire Artists at GlassFest 2027 will be considered for recognition in the Fire Arts Award Showcase, honoring outstanding work in Glass, Ceramics, Metals, and Jewelry. Award recipients in each category will be granted a free booth at GlassFest 2028 and highlighted in GlassFest’s promotional campaigns.  The judging panel for the showcase includes local (non participating) artists, teaching artists, local business owners and Corning's Gaffer District staff. 

Jury Process:  

All vendor category applications are reviewed by the GlassFest selection committee based solely on submitted images. All vendors must submit images that accurately represent all work intended for exhibition. The jury will not review physical samples. Placement is determined by jury results and space availability. 
 
Image Requirements For All Vendors: 

• 4 high quality images of current work 

• 1 image of booth/display setup 

• Images should be suitable for website and social media marketing 

• Images must show only the applicant’s work. No logos, text overlays, or collaborative work unless clearly identified. 

• Work displayed at the festival must match submitted images. 

Accepted Mediums for Artist Vendors: 

Fire Arts: 

• Glass: functional or sculptured work in which the primary material is glass 

• Ceramics: functional or sculptured work in which the primary material is clay 

• Metal: functional or sculptured work in which the primary material is metal 

• Jewelry: work that is made from precious or non-precious metals, glass, or clay 

Fine Arts: 

• Painting: two dimensional works created in Oils, Acrylics, and/or Watercolors 

• Pastels / Drawing: original two dimensional works created using traditional pastels, pencils, and/or charcoal 

• Photography: photographic prints created from the artist's original photos that have been processed by the artist or under the supervision of the artist. Digital photography must be original photographs with minimal digital manipulation by the artist. 

• Sculpture: original works that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned, or carved, or cast 

• Jewelry: handcrafted jewelry containing synthetic or mass produced components not made by the artist 

• Other / Mixed Media (wood, fiber, etc.) 

Artist Eligibility Requirements: 

• All work must be original and created by the artist or under the artist’s direct supervision. 

• Artists must have or obtain a valid NYS Tax ID number (must be displayed in their booth). 

• One-of-a-kind, limited edition, and high-quality production work is encouraged. 

Insurance Required For All Vendor Types: 

• $1,000,000 General Liability 

• $1,000,000 per occurrence 

Certificates must list each of the following as Additional Insured on separate certificates: 

• City of Corning 500 Nasser Civic Center Plaza, Corning, NY 14830 

• Corning’s Gaffer District 1West Market St, Suite 401, Corning, NY 14830 

The event must be listed as: GlassFest, June 18–20, 2027 

Proof of insurance is due by May 19, 2027. 

All Vendor Regulations: 

• Electricity is not provided. Only low-noise generators are permitted and must have a visible safety barrier to protect visitors and customers.  

• All generators must have an approved fire extinguisher and be located at least 10’ from combustible materials with a physical guard to keep the public away. 

• ONLY electric heaters are permitted--NO gas/propane will be permitted (please note we are not able to provide electricity, so you will need to provide your own battery pack/generator if you plan to have a heater of this kind.)  

• All cords used on-site will be 12-gauge or larger (i.e 10 gauge etc.) and designed for outdoor use. There will be cord covers protecting the cords. 

• Fire Extinguishers shall be provided for any use or activity that involved flame or a heat source. 

• Vendors must supply all display equipment, including tents, tables, chairs, and weights.  

• Tents are required and must be fully weighted on each leg with a minmum of 10lbs.  

• Items shall not be suspended from or attached to a Pop-up-style tent unless the manufacturer specifically permits the attachment method and the item does not adversely affect the structural stability, anchorage, fire safety, or required means of egress of the Tent or event. 

• Vendors must be able to obtain and display all required City of Corning permits.  

• Vendors must have or obtain a valid NYS Tax ID number (must be displayed in their booth)  

• ALL VENDORS are responsible for booth security and personal property.  

• ALL VENDORS must be present and fully set up by opening time each day and are responsible for the cleanup and removal of any waste from their booth at the end of each day. Due to the presence of enhanced street closure equipment, we strongly encourage all vendors to remain set up throughout the entire weekend and to minimize breakdown and load-out on Friday and Saturday evenings. Overnight security will be onsite. Set up and breakdown hours are:
  • Friday, 6/18:
    • Set-Up: 7-10 AM (Vehicles off the street by 9:30 AM)
    • Breakdown: 7-8 PM
  • Saturday, 6/19
    • Set-Up: 8-10 AM (Vehicles off the street by 9:30 AM)
    • Breakdown: 7-8 PM
  • Sunday, 6/20
    • Set-Up: 8-10 AM (Vehicles off the street by 9:30 AM)
    • Breakdown: 5-7 PM

• No early breakdown is permitted.   

• Booth sharing is not allowed.  

• Space assignments are at the sole discretion of Corning's Gaffer District. Final locations will be confirmed before the event. 
• Displays must fit within assigned space and may not encroach on sidewalks or businesses.  

• Vendors will sell or promote within their reserved space and avoid "hawking" their materials or items.  

• Early departure, no-show, or untimely cancellation (less than 48 hours notice) may result in disqualification from future Corning's Gaffer District events.  

• All Vendors agree to complete a post-event survey including daily foot traffic, sales, and demographics.  

Artist Agreement: 

• All work exhibited will be original and created by the artist or under their direct supervision. 

• Any work differing greatly from submitted images may be removed from the show. 

Onsite Preparation Food Vendor Safety Agreement: 

ALL FOOD VENDORS agree to comply with all NYS health, fire, and safety regulations, including: 

• Proper LP gas usage (ensuring compliance with any state and local fire codes) 

• Pavement protection for grilling 

• Low noise generators only - with a visiable safety barrier around the generator 

• Any food vendor using grease in their operation, or producing grease as a byproduct, must dispose of the grease in an approved grease barrel. No grease or byproducts may be dumped or left on site. Any food vendor failing to comply with this rule will face legal action and will be reported to the Department of Environmental Conservation.  

• All vendors are directed to contact the codes department directly to understand any permitting or operating requirements. 

• Tents used for cooking of food shall be fire resistant and the label shall be clearly visible.  

• Tents used for cooking of food shall submit a detailed layout of the tent with all equipment and fuel sources and apply for the appropiate tent permit through the City of Corning codes department.  

• All Food Trucks and Food Tents will have Fire Extinguishers (Class B). Vendors using fryers are required to have a Type K extinguisher. 

• All Propane cylinders shall be secured properly to prevent tipping 

• Propane cylinders shall be guarded against physical tampering and shall be located away from spectator access. 
• Display of NYS Health Permit and NYS Tax Number 

Booth Categories & Pricing: 

Fire & Fine Artist Vendors: 

• 10' x 10' - $250 
• 10' x 20' - $500 

 Craft, Specialty Foods, General Merchandise, Community Group Vendors: 

• 10' x 10' - $325 
• 10’ x 20’ - $675 

Onsite Preparation Food Booth or Food Truck Vendors: 

• Under 25 ft - $600 
• Over 25ft - $700 

Application fees are non-refundable. 
Booth fees are refundable only if written withdrawal is received by May 19, 2027. No refunds will be issued after this date.