Midcentury Barware Show Hosted by Gay Fad Studios Returns to Lancaster

If you’re the type who obsesses over the perfect coupe glass, can spot a Dorothy Thorpe rim from across the room or thinks cocktails just taste better when served in vintage barware, then Lancaster has the event for you. Whether you’re a midcentury modern purist, a Tiki enthusiast or just someone who likes their drinks with a side of atomic-age flair, the city’s four-day celebration of glass and history is for you. 

Bottoms Up: A Midcentury Barware Show, presented by Gay Fad Studios, is back June 26 through June 29. Gay Fad Studios’ owners, David and Jason Annecy, worked closely with local businesses to give visitors a full slate of events to check out during their stay. Throughout the event, visitors can explore expert-led classes, themed cocktail parties, ceramics and glassmaking demos, vintage shopping and plenty of places to cool down with food and drinks.

“It really takes a village,” David says. “It takes a lot of people, a lot of resources, and we've been really fortunate to have a lot of folks get behind the concept. They saw the benefit of the event from last year, where many small local businesses downtown had the highest days in sales that they've ever had since they've been open.”

Inspired by their trip to Modernism Week in Palm Springs, California, the Annecys launched Bottoms Up in 2024 without expecting the overwhelming success of drawing nearly 20,000 attendees from 20 states.

“Each day, the crowds just kept building,” Jason says. “By Friday, we were seeing numbers we’d never seen before.”

This year’s event carries the perfect summer theme too. Inspired by Tiki Tom Tom, who authored Polynesiacs, some of the participating businesses will transform into a midcentury-Tiki and pop Polynesian wonderland (think dark wood carvings, bamboo, tropical plants and bright, orange, bluish-purple illuminated lights.) Tiki Tom will also be in attendance, popping around downtown Lancaster and holding both a book signing and special presentation.

This year’s event includes even more free classes and presentations, exclusive themed cocktail parties and an even bigger three-day Midcentury Vendor Show Marketplace, which will be double the size of last year’s.

The Annecys, who have owned Gay Fad Studios on Main Street in since 2022, were not always part of the glass legacy of Lancaster or the barware community. They started uncovering the hidden history behind the original Gay Fad Studios, learning about the woman who launched the glassware company in 1938, Fran Taylor. The Annecys wanted to bring back the company as way to recognize Taylor as not only a key figure in the glassware industry but also in women’s history.

“Most people talk about Anchor Hocking and Lancaster Glass Company, yet they forgot one,“ Jason says. “When we think about midcentury designers, you don’t hear Fran’s name coming up. It should be.”

Starting as what Jason dubbed, “the craziest research project ever,” the effort soon evolved it into a business. Today, Gay Fad Studios is the only decorated glassware company from the 1930s that has come back to life.

Bottoms Up attendees do not need to purchase a ticket for general admission, but tickets are required for the signature events scheduled throughout the four days, such as themed cocktail parties, live entertainment, a vendor show, tasting experiences and exclusive contests and giveaways.

Tickets for the signature events can be purchased individually, but if you simply can’t choose, Bottoms Up offers ticket packages that range from a day trip lineup to all-access and lodging for the entire event. The Annecys are anticipating another big year for this event that shines a light on local history. 

“From the very first day, everyone understood us immediately,” Jason says. ”There’s a deep emotional bond to glassware here. You can’t replicate that anywhere else.”

For more information about Bottoms Up, visit gayfadstudios.com/bottomsup.

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