Glass Gourds Galore: Pumpkin Season at Wimberley Glassworks

Do you feel it? That subtle shift in the air? Pumpkin spice season is quickly approaching! And what better way to celebrate the fall season in San Marcos than by collecting a glass pumpkin from Wimberley Glassworks? While we love everything Wimberley Glassworks makes (the cowboy hat, cactus, ornaments, and shamrocks are personal favorites), there’s something extra special about the pumpkins. Their pumpkin-y ridges, beautiful translucence, and whimsical curling stems are pure magic! Peruse the glass pumpkin patch for your perfect piece, or keep your eye out for a special opportunity to make your own – one thing’s for certain, these are sure to be a staple in your family’s décor for years to come. You know, since they don’t rot…

Making Molten Magic

As massive fans for years, we saw an opportunity to join a pumpkin-making class at Wimberley Glassworks and RAN FOR IT. Classes are offered seasonally and feature different items to make. Spots in the class are limited, so when you see one open, it’s best to grab it as they tend to go quickly.

On the day of the class, you’re going to want to show up with hair tied back, closed-toed shoes on, and wearing all 100% cotton. Safety first! The Hot Shop is named accurately; it’s HOT in there due to the nature of, well, molten hot lava glass needing to stay at the temperature of the sun. So we suggest leaving your jackets or sweats at home – you’ll be plenty warm, we promise. We also recommend you get there early to admire everything displayed in the gallery. That way, you can see all the beautiful colors and get inspired for the creation ahead of you.

Once your class is ready, it’s off to the Hot Shop. The Wimberley Glassworks team is, and we cannot stress this enough, INCREDIBLE! These artists know what they’re doing and are always so happy to share their knowledge with everyone. This ancient art form is not for the faint-hearted as they’re working with an extremely hot and delicate medium, but this crew makes it look effortless. The glass is 2100 degrees Fahrenheit and is the consistency of honey!  

Once you’ve seen the experts do their thing, it’s time to start working on your own piece. No need to worry, they do all the heavy lifting. You get to choose the color, help shape the piece, blow it to size, and put the finishing touches on. Getting to make our own whimsical curly pumpkin stems? A dream come true!

Once you’re all done, the glass is set in a kiln for a controlled cooling process so it can cool slowly and evenly. This process takes a while, and your finished piece will be ready for pickup a day after it’s been made. Then it’s all ready for you to find a place of pride in your home for your new hand-blown and personalized piece.

Pick Of The Patch

Of course, if playing with hot molten glass isn’t your thing, you can leave it to the artists and find plenty of one-of-a-kind pre-made pumpkins to take home! Wimberley Glassworks pumpkins come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and there are LOTS to choose from. You can find pumpkins available all season long in the gallery, but we suggest going to pick your pumpkins on September 20, 2025, during the Annual Gourdgeous Glass Pumpkin Patch event. This event gets bigger every year with hundreds of one-of-a-kind glass pumpkins, spooky-themed live glassblowing demonstrations, interactive scavenger hunts, festival fall treats, kids' coloring stations, games, giveaways, and more. We may be biased, but it’s the best day of the year at Wimberley Glassworks, so clear your schedule.

A HOT Place To Be

Wimberley Glassworks is always an enchanting place to visit. We love going to see what the team has been cooking up, and we are always impressed. The creativity, artistry, and hospitality are always top-notch. You can visit the gallery Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm year-round. And you can watch the glassblowing process live Thursday through Sunday from 10:30am to 3:30pm. Stop by, check it out, and tell them your friends at Visit San Marcos sent you! Oh, and if you’re looking for a way to “chill” out after your Wimberley Glassworks adventure, there are two San Marcos breweries just up the road: Roughhouse Brewing and Middleton Brewing.