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Sea Glass Festival brings normalcy to Lewes

Historical society grounds set up for safety
Artist Jessica Schlegel poses in her booth surrounded by her work. She creates custom watercolor paintings, acrylic paintings, hand-painted wine glasses and more.
Nick Roth
October 1, 2020

The 2020 Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival may have looked a little different at the Lewes Historical Society complex, but the event brought back a sense of normalcy to the First Town. 

Nearly three dozen vendors spaced out on the Shipcarpenter Square campus, offering a variety of authentic sea glass creations, from jewelry to ornaments to wall art. The focus of this year’s event was the history of sea glass. Educational speakers, exhibitions, historical displays, shard contests and family-oriented interactive activities were offered. 

To provide a safe experience, the historical society permitted a limited number of people into the festival using timed tickets for 1 1/2-hour blocks. Guests were also required to follow a one-way path through the complex. 

Frannie Phillips uses authentic Maryland sea glass to create a selection of items, including these earrings.
Artist Margie Samero of Step by Stepping Stones creates crushed stained glass art, shown, and stepping stones.
“I’d rather be sea glassing.”
Vendors were spread out on the Lewes Historical Society complex to ensure social distancing. Guests were also asked to follow a one-way path through the festival.
Kathy Shelton of Sea Foam Creations makes handcrafted beach jewelry and decor with authentic sea glass and shells.
Kathy Shelton of Sea Foam Creations stands in her booth. She makes handcrafted beach jewelry and decor with authentic sea glass and shells.
Sherri Neale of Beachstars46 shows off handmade stained glass stars with sea glass centers. She procures her sea glass from Seaham, England, which was home to several glass factories, resulting in rare multi-colored sea glass.
Sherri Neale uses sea glass from Seaham, England, which was home to several glass factories, resulting in rare multi-colored sea glass.
SeaGals Gallery offers these sea glass angels.
SwellColors Glass Studio & Gallery of Surf City, N.J., brought this mosaic surf board across the Delaware Bay.
Stu Jacobs and his daughter Emily of Baltimore collect sea glass. Their collection was on display at the Sea Glass Festival.
Stu Jacobs and his daughter Emily of Baltimore collect sea glass. Their collection was on display at the Sea Glass Festival.
The menhaden fishing reel attracted a lot of attention from festival guests.
The Lewes Historical Society continued its tradition of holding a sea glass festival.

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Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams. 

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