🙌😎✨SORRY THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT!✨😎🙌
We're happy to announce Garefest 2025, taking place on March 3-4 (9am-4:30pm on Monday, 9:30-4:30 on Tuesday) in Haverhill Massachusetts!
Our 2-day event is for paint-your-own pottery studio owners and their employees (all attendees must be over 18 yrs of age) and will feature brand new techniques and business classes sure to help you drive revenue at your studio!
Classes will be taught by:
Technique Classes:
Tammy Gacek, our amazing staff artist that comes to us with over 32 years of ceramics experience! Her portfolio includes large in-house wall murals, ceramics and canvas classes. Tammy loves spreading joy with her art. She is a firm believer in uplifting & encouraging others to be positive and inspirational. In addition to her upbeat/ positive vibe, Tammy also enjoys working in the PYOP industry for over 19 years.
Kylee Smith is the owner of Lit Studios Paint and Pottery in Hutchinson, Kansas. Her passion for art began as a child, painting with her grandmother, and continued to grow through studying ceramics in high school. For the past eight years she has owned and operated Lit Studios Paint and Pottery in Hutchinson, Kansas, creating a welcoming space for creativity and community. As an organized planner, she takes pride in ensuring the events run smoothly, making every creative gathering both seamless and memorable.
Meet Lulu, your go-to creative at As You Wish Pottery! With a background in Media Arts & Animation, she’s collaborated with leading animation companies, but painting pottery is where her heart truly belongs. With nearly 13 years at the studio, Lulu has grown from associate to Custom Artist, curating monthly classes, studio samples, and event projects with passion. When not in her "HQ Bat Cave," you’ll find her playing video games, doodling on her iPad (or any paper surface nearby), or spending time with her boyfriend and their cat, Bowtie.
Business Classes:
Jenn Meyer, entrepreneur and Productivity | Life Coach, transformed her overwhelming workweeks to finding flexibility and freedom from the daily grind, leveraging powerful planning systems and innovative tools. By incorporating artificial intelligence, Jenn has discovered one of the most impactful productivity boosters in her career, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, reduce overwhelm, and build fulfilling lives beyond the daily grind. Now, she shares her expertise with others, empowering business owners to streamline their processes and embrace innovation.
Julie & Robin Cates, owners of On the Pot in Salina, KS and authors of the "Two Chicks & A Brush" book series teaching their tricks of the trade after having owned their studio for 21 years and counting! We love having Julie & Robin as part of our Gare family and look forward to having them back to this years Garefest for more creativity & fun!
Lorena & Lyndsay - Together, Lorena and Lyndsay are building a welcoming, family-run art studio where people can come to create, connect, and have fun. As a mother and daughter team, they’ve worked together at Angelo's Pottery Studio since 2009. Lorena has transformed Angelo's from a struggling business to a creative hub of the community. Over the past 15 years, she’s expanded their offerings to include many art mediums such as - canvas painting, wet clay classes, pottery wheel sessions, large-scale ornament events, and creative offsite partnerships with local businesses.
Lyndsay, a former English teacher, decided to trade in grading papers for quality time with her two-year-old and a larger role in the family business. Now, she works part-time at the studio, where she organizes a wide range of onsite and offsite events and manages the studio’s social media and marketing presence.
** Presenters & topics are subject to change.
What you’ll learn…
You'll learn all about our product lines and get a sneak peek at new bisque designs and products we're working on!
Meet the folks that make up the Gare Family! Come join the fun, learn a ton and take some new knowledge back to your studio!
The fun you’ll have…
We'll provide a light continental breakfast, and cover lunch on both days.
Stay for our Monday night mixer and get to know your peers! Enjoy dinner, drinks and the live music of Mike Gacek!
It's 2 days packed with information and inspiration, you won't want to miss it!
Planning your trip…
Airports
Boston Logan Airport in Boston, MA (BOS) www.massport.com
Boston Logan Airport is approximately 39 miles from Gare.
Manchester Airport in Manchester, NH (MHT) www.flymanchester.com
Manchester Airport is approximately 34 miles from Gare.
Hotels:
The Garrison Inn, Newburyport, MA *Downtown Newburyport (17 mins away)
The Essex Street Inn and Suites, Newburyport, MA (17 mins away)
The Guest House Suites, Salisbury, MA *Just over the bridge from Newburyport, MA (19 mins away)
The Artisan at Tuscan Village, Salem, NH (20 mins away)
Double Tree by Hilton Boston Andover, MA (23 mins away)
Courtyard by Marriott, Boston Andover, MA (24 mins away)
The Blue Inn, Plum Island, MA *Oceanfront / next to Newburyport, MA (31 mins away)
Questions?
FAQs
Who can attend?
This event is for brick & mortar studio owners. Each studio owner may bring one guest who MUST be an employee of the studio.
How long is the event each day?
Monday we'll start at 9am and will finish around 4:30pm. Monday evening we'll have a mix & mingle event (only those attending Garefest can attend the Monday night event; however, spouses and friends can attend for an additional fee - please contact us if needed). Tuesday we'll start at 9:30am and we'll finish the day around 4:30pm.
Can I get a detailed agenda of the event?
Yes, everyone who signs up for the event will receive an emailed agenda with detailed information that will be sent out approximately 2 weeks before Gare Fest.
Will there be a 2nd Garefest event in 2025?
We do not plan on having a 2nd Garefest event in 2025.
Will there be a Garefest 2026?
Plans have not been finalized, but we anticipate having Garefest 2026 offsite - location is TBD.
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
We do not provide transportation to and from the airports to the hotel, but if you are looking to share a rental car with someone who is also flying in to attend our event, please contact us for a list of attendees so you can get in touch and make plans to meet up.
Parking:
We have plenty of parking at Gare in the front and back of the building.
What can/can't I bring to the event?
Just bring yourself, we'll cover all of your materials and meals. We suggest you don't bring any large bags or extra stuff with you, as space is limited (we try to fit as many people as possible).
Is my registration/ticket transferrable?
No, tickets are non-transferrable and non-refundable.
What is the refund policy?
Tickets are non-refundable, but can be resold with approval from Gare.
Where can I find a receipt for this event?
We process the payment for this event the same way we do regular orders, so you can find an invoice under "My Account" and "Invoices & Tracking".
