Blow Your Own Glass Evergreen at Ohio Glass Museum | Lancaster Holiday Workshop

At the Ohio Glass Museum in Lancaster, Ohio, an intimate two-hour workshop turns raw molten material into a green holiday keepsake. Hot Glass: Glass Blowing — Evergreen Trees (ages 8+, max four students) puts you at the furnace door with a small group and an instructor who guides every step as you gather, shape and snip branches from a gob of molten soda-lime glass. No previous experience is required; the class scales techniques so a first-timer can work the pipe while the instructor assists at the bench.

The studio itself is the defining feature: a warm, loud room dominated by the glowing furnace, hand tools (shears, paddles, jacks) and a marvering table where hot glass is rolled and cooled. That concentrated heat sculpts a distinctive holiday form—evergreen branches and textured needles—into a tree ornament you’ll cool, anneal and later collect. Class size—four participants—means hands-on time, step-by-step demos and plenty of opportunity to personalize color and surface effects.

Practical details are purpose-built for visitors. The class takes place at the Ohio Glass Museum in downtown Lancaster; fused-glass classes use the entrance at 124 West Main St. For this glass-blowing session enter through the blue back door off the alley (the front doors will be locked before/after museum hours). Parking is available behind the museum and across the alley near electric-car chargers numbered 75–78; lots behind the museum open after 5 p.m. Bring closed-toe shoes, natural-fiber clothing and a water bottle, and complete the mandatory waiver before you work with hot glass.

What makes this experience special for Lancaster is scale and accessibility: a community museum that opens access to a technically demanding craft in a compact class format. The results are tangible—each participant leaves with a handmade glass Evergreen that captures the glassblower’s mark and the studio’s heat in a small, transportable keepsake. The museum also manages finished pieces: all class-made glass must be picked up within 60 days, and shipping can be arranged for an extra fee.

Visitors should be prepared to follow strict safety rules—no sandals, loose jewelry or heavy metal pieces that could snag—and to move from observation to participation quickly. For families, the minimum age (8) makes this a rare multi-generational art experience in a small Midwestern city. It’s a short, intense dose of craft that leaves you with stories, photos and a fragile green tree forged from fire. Plan to arrive early to tour the museum’s exhibits when open; fused-glass rooms at 124 West Main St show a different set of techniques. Teachers emphasize safe handling and creative decisions, so even cautious visitors come away excited and proud. Book early—classes are limited to four and fill quickly during holiday season. Reserve your spot for a holiday.