On the first day of spring, a little magic sprouted up across Pittsburgh city parks. Tucked into tree roots and shrubs, nestled under benches, perched along paths, and hidden next to landmarks, fountains, and playgrounds, 25 handmade glass mushrooms popped up for Pittsburgh Glass Center’s 4th Annual Magnificent Glass Mushroom Hunt.
The project first came to life four years ago through a partnership with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (PPC), allowing the idea of a glass mushroom hunt to stretch across the city’s incredible public parks and blossom into a highly anticipated annual event. PPC identified parks that invited exploration, parks where people already gathered and played, or brand new parks like Hays Woods that the community might not have yet discovered. From the wooded trails to neighborhood lawns, these parks became the stage to celebrate the return of spring and get folks excited about glass!
Artists were recruited to handmake each unique glass mushroom in Pittsburgh Glass Center’s Hot Shop. PGC staff, board members, plus friends and family were asked to volunteer and venture out to 25 different parks and stealthily hide the fabulous fungi, take photos, and document their secret locations. The hunt was announced on the first day of spring and photos of clues to their hidden locations were strategically released on PGC’s Instagram. Then, just as mysteriously as they appeared, the mushrooms were collected, photographed, and carried off into their new homes.
While every mushroom is a beautiful small treasure in itself, the hunt also included an added layer of excitement. Each mushroom comes with a free Walk In + Make-It-Now experience at Pittsburgh Glass Center. When mushroom finders post their discoveries on Instagram and tag @pghglasscenter, they receive directions on how to redeem a FREE glassmaking experience to step inside the hot shop, work with glass firsthand, and experience a similar creative process to the one that brought their mushroom to life.
This year, the hunt was more than a fun project; it was also a milestone celebrating 25 years of Pittsburgh Glass Center. Twenty-five years of bringing creativity, experimentation, and community together, celebrated with 25 fabulous fungi and free glassmaking for 25 finders.
Did you miss your chance to find a mushroom?
Keep an eye on Instagram throughout the rest of the year. To continue the 25-year celebration, we have an ongoing citywide glass scavenger hunt. You can find one unique glass object hidden somewhere in the city each month, all year long. Each handcrafted object is made by one of our talented glass artists at Pittsburgh Glass Center. Clues about item locations will drop monthly through our social channels, leading glass hunters to parks, landmarks, and unexpected corners of the city. Finders get to keep the glass piece as a one-of-a-kind anniversary keepsake and share their discovery as part of our ongoing celebration.
Join the hunt, explore the city, and help us mark 25 years of glass, adventure, and community.
And check back next year for our 5th Annual Marvelous Mushroom Hunt announced on the first day of spring 2027.
