Football Fans Only: Draft Days at Pittsburgh Glass Center - Pittsburgh Glass Center
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:35
Football Fans Only: Draft Days at Pittsburgh Glass Center - Pittsburgh Glass Center
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March 2, 2026
Football Fans Only: Draft Days at Pittsburgh Glass Center
We’re just as excited as you are to see Pittsburgh take the national stage this April and we’re ready to show off what makes this city shine.
Sure, football might be a way of life here. But during Draft weekend—April 24 through April 26—we’re calling an audible! Step off the field and get closer to the fire.
At Pittsburgh Glass Center, the energy is just as intense: molten glass, roaring furnaces, and artists moving with precision, creativity, and a little bit of magic. It’s Pittsburgh grit, reimagined.
Between picks, discover another side of the city:
Watch live glassblowing
Take a free tour
Shop one-of-a-kind pieces made right here in Pittsburgh
Try it yourself and make something unforgettable
From the casually curious to the lifelong maker, everyone is welcome.
You came for the Draft—now experience the heat, creativity, and craft that keep Pittsburgh glowing.
Here are a few of the many opportunities this weekend to get your glass game on.
Walk-In + Make-It-Now
Ornaments or Paperweights
Friday, April 24 – Sunday, April 26
1:00–5:00pm
Walk in and make a blown glass ornament or sculpted paperweight for $55 in your favorite team colors in less than 20 minutes. Ages 5+. No experience or reservations required.
Learn more.
Make-It-Now Fused Sports Suncatchers
Friday, April 24, 3–8pm
Saturday, April 25, 2–7pm
Sunday, April 26, 1–5pm
Use your team colors and creativity to make a fused suncatcher in 50 minutes or less. Ages 5+. No experience is required. Walk-ins accepted,
registration suggested
.
1-Session Special Workshops
No experience is required and all materials are included. Pre-registration is required. Ages 14+.
Browse all available workshops April 24–26.
Friday, April 24
6:00–8:00pm
Black and Gold Beads
Friday, April 24
6:00–8:00pm
Fused Sports Dish and Coasters
Saturday, April 25
10:00am–12:30pm
Black and Gold Blown Suncatchers
Saturday, April 25
10:00am–12:00pm
Fused Sports Dish and Coasters
Saturday, April 25
4:00–6:00pm
Fused Sports Dish and Coasters
Sunday, April 26
5:00–7:00pm
Fused Sports Dish and Coasters
Celebrating 25 years in 2026, Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) is a nonprofit, public access glass art center where anyone can take classes, explore the contemporary glass gallery, shop for glass gifts, and watch live glassblowing demonstrations. Since its opening, PGC has educated over 750,000 individuals, contributed to the ongoing development of the city’s East End, and made Pittsburgh a significant hub in the international studio glass community. A multimillion-dollar expansion in 2024 nearly doubled its capacity, allowing it to meet the increasing demand for glass programs and studios. PGC continues to cultivate an inclusive and welcoming environment that encourages everyone, from the casually curious to the master artist, to learn, create, and be inspired by glass. 25 years and still glowing!
Hot Shop Activities
With the help of an instructor, participants will learn how to transform 2,000°F molten glass into a unique glass artwork. Sculpted items will be manipulated and shaped with various metal hand tools. Blown items will be inflated via a flexible tube attached to a blow pipe. The Hot Shop, as the name might suggest, can get warm at times, particularly during summer months. That being said, the activity will only take about 10-15 minutes per person so you won’t be warm for long. We encourage our guests to wear lighter, natural material clothing for safety and comfort. Visitors are welcome to bring water bottles and a water fountain/filling station is available. These activities will involves sitting, standing, and walking around. Suitable for ages 5 and up.
Kiln Shop Fusing Activities
Combine brilliantly colored pieces of glass granules and thin glass strands to create a one-of-a-kind luminous fused glass artwork. Once you design it, we’ll fire it, so that all pieces become one. Participants will work seated in our climate-controlled Classroom and with room temperature pieces of glass. You will begin with a glass tile that acts as your “canvas,” then arrange the colorful glass granules and thin glass strands into a design of your choosing. Once the designs are complete, suncatchers are placed in a kiln overnight to melt (fuse) together forever. Suitable for ages 5 and up.
Flame Shop Activities
With the help of an instructor, participants will learn how to use tools and a tabletop torch to melt and manipulate glass rods and transform them into truly one-of-a-kind objects. These activities take place in our climate controlled Flame Shop, which involves working with a flame, but is not nearly as warm as our Hot Shop. Participants will be sitting at a workstation, making this option slightly more accessible and less physically demanding. Suitable for ages 8 and up.
ARTISTS
EDUCATORS
SHOP
JOIN & GIVE
DONATE NOW
Skip to content
March 2, 2026
Football Fans Only: Draft Days at Pittsburgh Glass Center
We’re just as excited as you are to see Pittsburgh take the national stage this April and we’re ready to show off what makes this city shine.
Sure, football might be a way of life here. But during Draft weekend—April 24 through April 26—we’re calling an audible! Step off the field and get closer to the fire.
At Pittsburgh Glass Center, the energy is just as intense: molten glass, roaring furnaces, and artists moving with precision, creativity, and a little bit of magic. It’s Pittsburgh grit, reimagined.
Between picks, discover another side of the city:
Watch live glassblowing
Take a free tour
Shop one-of-a-kind pieces made right here in Pittsburgh
Try it yourself and make something unforgettable
From the casually curious to the lifelong maker, everyone is welcome.
You came for the Draft—now experience the heat, creativity, and craft that keep Pittsburgh glowing.
Here are a few of the many opportunities this weekend to get your glass game on.
Walk-In + Make-It-Now
Ornaments or Paperweights
Friday, April 24 – Sunday, April 26
1:00–5:00pm
Walk in and make a blown glass ornament or sculpted paperweight for $55 in your favorite team colors in less than 20 minutes. Ages 5+. No experience or reservations required.
Learn more.
Make-It-Now Fused Sports Suncatchers
Friday, April 24, 3–8pm
Saturday, April 25, 2–7pm
Sunday, April 26, 1–5pm
Use your team colors and creativity to make a fused suncatcher in 50 minutes or less. Ages 5+. No experience is required. Walk-ins accepted,
registration suggested
.
1-Session Special Workshops
No experience is required and all materials are included. Pre-registration is required. Ages 14+.
Browse all available workshops April 24–26.
Friday, April 24
6:00–8:00pm
Black and Gold Beads
Friday, April 24
6:00–8:00pm
Fused Sports Dish and Coasters
Saturday, April 25
10:00am–12:30pm
Black and Gold Blown Suncatchers
Saturday, April 25
10:00am–12:00pm
Fused Sports Dish and Coasters
Saturday, April 25
4:00–6:00pm
Fused Sports Dish and Coasters
Sunday, April 26
5:00–7:00pm
Fused Sports Dish and Coasters
Celebrating 25 years in 2026, Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) is a nonprofit, public access glass art center where anyone can take classes, explore the contemporary glass gallery, shop for glass gifts, and watch live glassblowing demonstrations. Since its opening, PGC has educated over 750,000 individuals, contributed to the ongoing development of the city’s East End, and made Pittsburgh a significant hub in the international studio glass community. A multimillion-dollar expansion in 2024 nearly doubled its capacity, allowing it to meet the increasing demand for glass programs and studios. PGC continues to cultivate an inclusive and welcoming environment that encourages everyone, from the casually curious to the master artist, to learn, create, and be inspired by glass. 25 years and still glowing!
Hot Shop Activities
With the help of an instructor, participants will learn how to transform 2,000°F molten glass into a unique glass artwork. Sculpted items will be manipulated and shaped with various metal hand tools. Blown items will be inflated via a flexible tube attached to a blow pipe. The Hot Shop, as the name might suggest, can get warm at times, particularly during summer months. That being said, the activity will only take about 10-15 minutes per person so you won’t be warm for long. We encourage our guests to wear lighter, natural material clothing for safety and comfort. Visitors are welcome to bring water bottles and a water fountain/filling station is available. These activities will involves sitting, standing, and walking around. Suitable for ages 5 and up.
Kiln Shop Fusing Activities
Combine brilliantly colored pieces of glass granules and thin glass strands to create a one-of-a-kind luminous fused glass artwork. Once you design it, we’ll fire it, so that all pieces become one. Participants will work seated in our climate-controlled Classroom and with room temperature pieces of glass. You will begin with a glass tile that acts as your “canvas,” then arrange the colorful glass granules and thin glass strands into a design of your choosing. Once the designs are complete, suncatchers are placed in a kiln overnight to melt (fuse) together forever. Suitable for ages 5 and up.
Flame Shop Activities
With the help of an instructor, participants will learn how to use tools and a tabletop torch to melt and manipulate glass rods and transform them into truly one-of-a-kind objects. These activities take place in our climate controlled Flame Shop, which involves working with a flame, but is not nearly as warm as our Hot Shop. Participants will be sitting at a workstation, making this option slightly more accessible and less physically demanding. Suitable for ages 8 and up.
ARTISTS
EDUCATORS
SHOP
JOIN & GIVE
DONATE NOW