43RD ANNUAL CONVENTION
2023 Arlington, Virginia
| When: | Wednesday-Saturday, August 16-19, 2023 |
| Where: | Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel at Reagan National Airport, 2799 Richmond Highway, Arlington, Virginia |
| Theme: | A Christmas Story in the Nation’s Capitol |
| Hosts: | Joe Meyers and Carrie Besl |
| Liaison to the Board of Directors: | Greg Spatafore |
General Information
Mail-In Convention Registration Form & Magazine Insert
Please use Online Convention Registration, if possible.
PRO TIP: Use this Mail-In Convention Registration form as a handy worksheet to prepare for your Online Convention Registration.
PRO TIP: Use this Mail-In Convention Registration form as a handy worksheet to prepare for your Online Convention Registration.
What’s Included in my Base Convention Registration Fee?
Convention Schedule
Hotel Information
Banquet Information
Registration Cancellation and Refund Policy
Museum Room Display Form
NEW! Form is online fillable. Complete and send in as an email attachment. No need to print.
Bus Transportation
NEW!
Negotiated Parking Rates
Things to Know about Washington DC from a Local’s Perspective
Toys for Tots
Letters to Santa
Deadline for Mailing: Saturday, May 1
Buying & Selling
Hotel Guest Room Sales (“Room Hopping”) for Sellers
Christkindlmarkt for Sellers
Wednesday, August 16, 1-4PM
Village Square Marketplace for Sellers
Wednesday, August 16, 9AM-4PM
Thursday, August 17, 9AM-4PM
Friday, August 18, 1-4PM
Thursday, August 17, 9AM-4PM
Friday, August 18, 1-4PM
Convention Sales Room for Sellers
Saturday, August 19, 9AM-12PM
Convention Sales Room Policy
Saturday, August 19, 9AM-12PM
Special Meals
SM1 Dinner and a Movie: A Christmas Story
Monday, August 14, 5-7PM
SM2 Merry Mix of Mid-Century Christmas Lunch
A 1940-1959 Era Event
Hosted by Lynne Eltrevoog and Dave Harms
Wednesday, August 16, 11AM-1PM
Hosted by Lynne Eltrevoog and Dave Harms
Wednesday, August 16, 11AM-1PM
SM3 Christmas Morning Pajama Party Breakfast
A 1960-1983 Era Collecting Event
Hosted by Amanda Benton and Kriss Plumer
Thursday, August 17, 8-10AM
Hosted by Amanda Benton and Kriss Plumer
Thursday, August 17, 8-10AM
SM4 Jeannette Beach Memorial Holly Luncheon
Hosted by Nancy Smith
Thursday, August 17, 12-2PM
Thursday, August 17, 12-2PM
SM5 Light Lunch
Hosted by Craig McManus
Thursday, August 17, 12-2PM
Thursday, August 17, 12-2PM
SM6 Victorian Christmas: The Transformation of Christmas Lunch
A Pre-1940 Era Event
Hosted by Elissa and Darren Walker
Friday, August 18, 11AM-1PM
Hosted by Elissa and Darren Walker
Friday, August 18, 11AM-1PM
SM7 The Joy of Collecting Villages Luncheon
Hosted by The National Council of 56 Clubs (NCC) and Department 56
Saturday, August 19, 12-2PM
Saturday, August 19, 12-2PM
Excursions
E1 Odyssey Dinner Cruise
limited to 48
Friday, August 11, 6-11PM
Friday, August 11, 6-11PM
E2 Route 11 Yard Crawl with breakfast bag and box lunch
Saturday, August 12, 6:30AM-4PM
E3 Art of Fire Tour and Art Studio Glass Blowing Class with lunch
each session limited to 15
E3A Saturday, August 12, 8:30AM-3PM
E3B Sunday, August 13, 8:30AM-3PM
E3C Tuesday, August 15, 8:30AM-3PM
E3A Saturday, August 12, 8:30AM-3PM
E3B Sunday, August 13, 8:30AM-3PM
E3C Tuesday, August 15, 8:30AM-3PM
E4 Guided Smithsonian Tour with lunch
Saturday, August 12, 9:15AM-4:45PM
E5 King Street Shopping with guide
Saturday, August 12, 1-4PM
E6 Monuments by Moonlight
E6A Saturday, August 12, 7:30-10:45PM
E6B Tuesday, August 15, 7:30-10:45PM
E6B Tuesday, August 15, 7:30-10:45PM
E7 Smithsonian Air & Space Museum and National Museum of the American Indian Tour with lunch
Sunday, August 13, 9AM-4PM
E8 U Street Food, History, and Art Fork Tour with four food tastings
Sunday, August 13, 11:30AM-4:30PM
E9 River City Boat Cruise
limited to 32
Sunday, August 13, 1:45-5:15PM
Sunday, August 13, 1:45-5:15PM
E10 Virginia Historical Tour with lunch
Monday, August 14, 9AM-5PM
E11 Armed Forces Tour with lunch
Monday, August 14, 9AM-5PM
E12 DC Scavenger Hunt with lunch
Monday, August 14, 9:30AM-3PM
E13 Historic Ellicott City, Forget Me Not Factory, and Village Home Tours
Tuesday, August 15, 8:30AM-4PM
E14 DC Sightseeing Tour with lunch
Tuesday, August 15, 9AM-5PM
E15 High Tea at the Henley Park Hotel
each tea time limited to 30
E15A Tuesday, August 15, 12:15-3:45PM
E15B Tuesday, August 15, 2:15-5:45PM
E15A Tuesday, August 15, 12:15-3:45PM
E15B Tuesday, August 15, 2:15-5:45PM
Workshops
W1 Cotton-Wrapped Tree
Instructor: Karen Shields
class limited to 25
Monday, August 14, 9-11AM
class limited to 25
Monday, August 14, 9-11AM
W2 Christmas Stocking
Instructor: Gay Iapalucci
class limited to 20
Monday, August 14, 9-11AM
class limited to 20
Monday, August 14, 9-11AM
W3 Sparktacular Vintage Jewelry Tree
Instructor: Sue Wille
class limited to 25
Monday, August 14, 10AM-12PM
class limited to 25
Monday, August 14, 10AM-12PM
W4 White Cotton Santa Ornament
Instructor: Karen Shields
class limited to 20
Monday, August 14, 1-3PM
class limited to 20
Monday, August 14, 1-3PM
W5 Sweet Satin Dolls: Ornament & Figure
Instructor: Sue Wille
class limited to 25
Monday, August 14, 1-2:30PM
class limited to 25
Monday, August 14, 1-2:30PM
W6 Gingerbread House Decoration
Instructor: Jaimie Mertz
class limited to 50
Monday, August 14, 2:30-4:30PM
class limited to 50
Monday, August 14, 2:30-4:30PM
W7 Red Cotton Santa Ornament
Instructor: Karen Shields
class limited to 20
Monday, August 14, 3-5PM
class limited to 20
Monday, August 14, 3-5PM
W8 Lady Vase Tree
Instructor: Amanda Benton
class limited to 12
Tuesday, August 15, 10AM-12PM
class limited to 12
Tuesday, August 15, 10AM-12PM
W9 Make a 9-Inch Mini Goose Feather Tree
Instructors: Ron and Carol Wardell
class limited to 20
Tuesday, August 15, 1-4PM
class limited to 20
Tuesday, August 15, 1-4PM
W11 Using Hot Wire Foam Factory Tools to Create a Putz Display
Instructors: Patricia and John Ehrenreich
each class limited to 25
W11A Tuesday, August 15, 4-5PM
W11B Tuesday, August 15, 5-6PM
each class limited to 25
W11A Tuesday, August 15, 4-5PM
W11B Tuesday, August 15, 5-6PM
W12 Village Styrofoam Display Carving
Instructors: Georgian Bay Villagers
class limited to 120
Wednesday, August 16, 8-10AM
class limited to 120
Wednesday, August 16, 8-10AM
W13 Three Feather Wreaths
Instructors: Ron and Carol Wardell
class limited to 20
Wednesday, August 16, 8-11AM
class limited to 20
Wednesday, August 16, 8-11AM
W14 Victorian Scrap Ornaments
Instructor: Mary McIntosh
class limited to 25
Wednesday, August 16, 9-11AM
class limited to 25
Wednesday, August 16, 9-11AM
W15 Village Christmas Lantern
Instructor: Ellen Somerwill
class limited to 15
Wednesday, August 16, 11AM-1PM
class limited to 15
Wednesday, August 16, 11AM-1PM
Contests
Christmas Cookie Contest
Homemade cookies and sweets are a Golden Glow Convention tradition.
Decorated Tree Contest
The Decorated Tree Contest is to encourage different points of view on vintage and antique Christmas tree decorations.
Museum Room Group Display Contest
The first-ever Museum Room Group Display will award one lucky charity $1,000.
Christmas Tree on a Budget Contest
Turn this plain 36-inch tree into a work of art!
Gingerbread House Contest
The first-ever Golden Glow Gingerbread House Competition.
Village Display Contest
A collection of buildings and accessories accompanied by a narrative telling us what inspired your display.
Facebook Party & Lampshade Hat Contest
Hosted by Golden Glow Social Media Team
Tuesday, August 15, 10PM-Midnight
Tuesday, August 15, 10PM-Midnight
Christopher Radko’s Antique Christmas Trivia Challenge
at the Christmas Festival
Thursday, August 17, 7-8PM
Thursday, August 17, 7-8PM
Merchandise
Woodland Scenics Soft Flake Snow SN140
Vintage Brands T-Shirts
Village Sign Post
Woodland Scenics Starter Kit
Patriotic Handblown Ornament
