What's this raku thing about?

Raku - is a Japanese firing process that requires pottery to be taken out of a kiln at red hot temps (1750 degrees) and placed into a reduction chamber of combustibles to starve the glazes of oxygen.  This reduction atmosphere allows the glazes you paint on to chemically react giving you piece very distinct color flashing, crackle and sooty blackness where there is exposed clay.
Create a one-of-a-kind fall keepsake during this fun, hands-on pottery experience! Glaze a handmade stoneware pumpkin created by Carrie Althouse, then watch it go through the exciting Raku firing process before taking it home the very same day.
Event Details
  • All ages welcome
  • No experience necessary! If you can hold a paintbrush, you can glaze a pumpkin.
  • Please allow up to 2 hours for your experience.
  • The firing will take place Rain or shine.
  • Perfect for friends, families, coworkers, clubs, and neighborhood groups looking for a unique outing.
  • No refunds are available during the month of October. If you're unable to attend, you're welcome to sell or gift your reservation to someone else. Simply have them provide your name when they check in at registration.  
In addition to pumpkins, we'll have a variety of à la carte pottery pieces available for purchase and glazing throughout the event, including but not limited to, ghosts, witch hats, cauldrons, owls, cats, dogs, snowmen, earrings, pumpkins and much more!

These special items will be available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Follow us on Facebook for sneak peeks and updates on the available pieces!
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Have more Questions?  Wondering what a Raku firing looks like? Click here to see pictures of what to expect and see why this exciting firing process has become a favorite fall tradition!

What do I need to know
​about the day of the event.

We are so excited for the upcoming raku firings!
Arrival:
  • Please carpool if you’re in a group if possible, parking can sometimes be tight.
  • Please forward this info to those in your party who may be new to raku so they can have a more pleasant experience because they know what to expect.
  • Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your time slot. We are on a time schedule with the firings.  Please arrive even earlier if you know you will take a while to pick out items and glaze multiple a la carte items.  If you arrive early, we kindly ask that you please be considerate of other guests who may still be using supplies for their scheduled time slot. 
  • Address: Chilly Hollow Brewing Company, Berryville VA
  • This event will be held rain or shine.  We will have tents for glazing under if there’s rain. 
  • Allow up to 2 hours for the entire experience.
 
Glazing
  • You will have a limited time to glaze (50 minutes max).  Our kilns can only fire 14 pieces per hour so your pieces need to be glazed within 50 minutes of your starting hour so we can load them and fire them at the second hour.  There will be NO SPACE to fit your scheduled pieces into any other firing.
  • Keep your glazing expectations LOW and have fun!  Raku glazes will not always turn out like the sample colors but that’s part of the fun.  Having said this, you may find that experimenting with layering different glazes can yield some great unique results.
  • ONLY 2-3 coats of glaze are allowed!   You can layer colors but DO NOT exceed a total of 3 even coats.  It will cause a mess in the kiln and cause your piece to end up with blisters!
 
Firing & Other
  • While your pottery fires in the kiln (about 30 – 40 minutes) please enjoy all the food, views and brews that Chilly Hollow has to offer! 
  • Children MUST be supervised especially around the firing area. 
  • There are public bathrooms in the brewery lodge.
  • LEASHED dogs are welcome.

​THANK YOU for registering for this event,
​Carrie Althouse
[email protected]
​603-355-7761