Illuminate Your Weekend: The Crystal Valley Glass and Jewellery Festival Brings Excitement to Liberec!
Crystal Valley Week is a large summer event showcasing glasswork, jewelry, and costume accessories. This year marks the fourth edition, which will bring glass artisans, jewelers, and craft experts from across the Crystal Valley to Liberec. In addition to numerous exhibitions and remarkable installations scattered throughout the city, “Crystal Week” will also include guided tours and a fashion show. Attendees will have the chance to meet renowned artists in person and try their creations for themselves! The event will feature established masters as well as emerging talents.Additionally, there will be the ever-popular Crystal Market, now hosted in the Regional Scientific Library, alongside creative and animation workshops, and even a ride in a decorated tram with a theme focused on traditional Czech glass beads. Visitors can look forward to two fashion shows titled “From History to the Future” and “Inspiration from Crystal Valley”.
Shows where you don’t expect them
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The Crystal Valley Week will illuminate Liberec in nearly thirty locations. You’ll find art waiting to surprise visitors in places such as the Botanical Garden, the historic City Hall, local theaters, and the underground city shelter. Talented young artists from art schools throughout the region will display their work at Liberec Castle. The Olives, a famous glassmaking family from Železný Brod with three generations of expertise, will showcase their creations in the beautifully restored Liebieg Palace. Among the exotic flora in the botanical garden, a dozen glassblowers will exhibit their delicate fragile flora and fauna. They all share the same craft of working with a glassblower.
The Technical Museum will host an exhibition featuring historical metal molds used for glass melting, showcasing the work of Jan Pesničák. Glass in various forms will beautify the city streets, and this year’s festival will introduce large glass ShowBOXes as a novelty. Numerous renowned figures in the glass industry, such as Vladimir Klein, Jiří Pačinek, and Aleš Zvěřina, alongside companies like Lasvit, Preciosa, and Ajeto, will also participate. Additionally, Liberec will showcase international participants, including Belgian artist Ilse van Roy, French artist Andréa Berthet, and Polish creators. Throughout Crystal Valley Week, visitors will have the opportunity to purchase original designer jewelry and glass items, particularly at the Crystal Market in the Liberec library or creative workshops in front of the town hall.
Glass Fashion – fashion inspired by glass
This year’s festival is centered around the theme of Glass Fashion. Here, you’ll find stylish inspiration showcased at two fashion shows happening in the industrial setting of the Liberec tram depot. Each year, interest is incredibly high. Models will display jewelry, costume jewelry, and glass pieces on a long runway, right among the trams, and the show will feature an exciting audiovisual performance from various artists representing the Crystal Valley. The festival will also see trams participating by running through the city. The traditional decorated festival tram, designed by Preciosa Ornely in partnership with Martin Pouzar, will honor the tradition of Czech glass beads by offering free rides to visitors during the event.
Become a glassmaker for a moment!
You can create glass whistles, grind glass, or get close to the fire of the kahan, all these activities will be available. In the square in front of the Liberec Town Hall, the festival’s ongoing program will feature mobile glassworks from Kunc Glass and another company called AZ-Design, known for glass cutting and painting. The Liberec Art School will provide an opportunity to try sandblasting as well. Interactive glass experiences will entertain visitors, and those feeling bold can attempt to walk on rooftops, while others can enjoy concerts featuring glass musical instruments or dance with performers clad in glass-adorned apparel. The festival also offers engaging programs for younger attendees, including creative workshops throughout the event. This overview gives a glimpse into what to expect at Crystal Valley Week 2025. As is tradition, most of the festival’s bright experiences will have no admission fees.
