The Bloomington Creative Glass Center (BCGC) has been holding its annual Glass Pumpkin Patch on the courthouse grass since 2010, but the journey has not always been easy for them as the BCGC started as a small passion project, but has grown exponentially over the past 13 years.
Abby Gitlitz, the Founder and Director of the BCGC, discovered her passion back in 1997 through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Glass Blowing Program. It was at MIT where Gitlitz began to realize she wanted to make a career out of this.
Upon moving to Bloomington she realized there was no place to blow glass until she would make that possible eight years later by opening her own glass blowing factory in 2018. Prior to opening her own shop, Gitlitz was traveling back and forth from Indianapolis for two months for nine years. This first event was smaller than it is now; only 198 pumpkins. In eight years that number has grown to 1,450 pumpkins, requiring a preview event to be held seven days before the main event.
Abby Gitlitz explains why the preview event is so popular, due to unexpected weather, daunting lines, or making sure you secure a pumpkin.
The preview showcases all the pumpkins that can safely be displayed but Gitlitz assured there would still be many options at the full display. The preview event is held for people who want to purchase pumpkins ahead of the main event.The number of pumpkins created for the 2023 Glass Pumpkin Patch Festival was estimated at around 1,400 which barely edged out 2022’s total.
When asked about the large turnout at the preview Gitlitz stated, “People have come to realize that spending more to secure your pumpkin and not have to stand out in the line is pretty worth it.”
The preview event continues to be a huge success for the BCGC as any pumpkins purchased at the preview event require a minimum $50 donation to purchase up to two pumpkins. While spending the $50 extra on-top of a lovely piece of art can seem like overpaying to some, seeing as the main event is more heavily attended, Gitlitz believes the supporters do not mind because it helps next year’s event and many others to come.
On October 14th, the day of the main event, people lined up as early as 5 A.M. to stand in the rain and survey all the pumpkins for sale. It was indeed a rainy, grey, and dark morning in Downtown Bloomington. However, that did not deter people from standing in line to secure their pumpkins. The first group in line arrived at 5 A.M. Which was even two hours earlier than Gitlitz had suggested.
Harrison Hall and his family even got a hotel the night before in Downtown Bloomington so they could ensure they had all the choice they could imagine. Many families attend the common pumpkin patch every year and seem completely enthralled with the experience, so why line up at 5am?
Harrison Hall explains that the artistry represented at the festival is special because someone took time to make it, and that’s why he is such a fan.
The Glass Pumpkin Festival makes it a highlight to celebrate the artists that make the pumpkins who craft the glass pumpkins that later sell from $80 and $400, by putting tags on the pumpkins so you can know who made your special one and giving the artists compensation for their designs
Indeed, arriving early to secure the pumpkin that you most want proves to be the right strategy. By 3PM, 5 hours after the event had begun, the 1,400 pumpkins were down to only 56. The leftover pumpkins are available at the BCGC on Wednesdays through Fridays from 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. until sold out.
The BCGC Facebook made sure to thank everyone for coming out and being a part of the fun festivities.
If you have any interest in learning the process of blowing glass or getting involved click here
