Mermaid Tears Sea Glass Festival
Celebrating Sea Glass in All Its Forms
We celebrate everything sea glass — its origins, its broken beginnings, and the remarkable journey that transforms discarded glass into smooth, frosted treasures shaped by the sea. Each piece tells a story through its colors, textures, and distinctive marks. From discovery along the shoreline to inspiration for beautiful works of art, sea glass connects people to the ocean, history, and creativity.
Established in 2008, the Mermaid Tears Sea Glass Festival began as an idea shared among passionate sea glass collectors in Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island. It quickly grew to become the first and largest sea glass festival in Canada. In 2011, the festival found its home in the scenic coastal community of Souris, PEI.
From its early years through 2019, the festival welcomed over 30 sea glass and nautical-themed vendors, along with live entertainment, children’s activities, food vendors, demonstrations, sea glass bingo, lighthouse tours, and guest speakers.
One of the festival’s most anticipated traditions was the Sea Glass Shards Contest, where collectors proudly submitted their most unique finds. With multiple categories and prizes, visitors eagerly awaited the moment when judges carefully examined each shard before announcing the winners.
While visiting the festival grounds, guests can easily walk into the historic town of Souris to explore local attractions. Stop by the Matthew McLean Historium, browse the town’s charming shops, enjoy local cuisine, or watch the ferry arrive and depart connecting PEI to the Îles de la Madeleine. And of course, no visit would be complete without heading to the nearby beaches to search for your own beautiful pieces of sea glass.
QUICK SEAGLASS TIPS: “ A SEA GLASS JOURNEY, EBB AND FLOW, TERI HALL”
Seaglass starts out as trash, mainly glass bottles discarded near the shoreline.
Broken glass requires three things to transform into seaglass: time, constant tumbling upon a gravelly shoreline, and long-term hydration.
The best spots to look for seaglass are beaches located near old town dumpsites with an abrasive shoreline at water’s edge and subject to strong onshore winds.
The best time to look for seaglass is one to two hours before or after low tide, preferably following a storm.
It’s your personal preference how to search for seaglass: walking on the high-tide mark, along the water’s edge, or sitting in an area with piles of stones, gravel and shifting through the debris; going alone or with friends.
White, brown, and green are the most common seaglass colours (mass-produced bottles). Red, yellow and orange (decorative tableware) are the most rare colours.
Thick shards and those with bubbles are most likely older.
Seaglass is disappearing from our shores and is becoming harder to find with each passing year.
