STARworks Glass will open its new glass studio to the public Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the STARworks Holiday Ornament Sale and Open House.

Festivities include glass demonstrations in the new studio, hundreds of handmade glass ornaments and gifts available for purchase, homemade holiday treats and plenty of good cheer. Parking will be in the STARworks front parking lot, and entrance will be through the front lobby.

Ornaments will be displayed on Christmas trees in the STARworks Gallery and will be priced from $20 to $25. Payment options include cash, check or credit cards. There will be no advance or reserved sales, and it is too late to request holiday special orders.

"The glass demonstrations will be holiday- themed," says STARworks glass coordinator Nick Fruin. "It's going to be a fun event, and visitors will get to see firsthand how we create glass objects in the STARworks Glass Lab."

Demonstrations in years past have included giant ornaments and snowmen.

STARworks is recommending that people arrive as close as 10 a.m. as possible to ensure a good selection of ornaments.

"We fully expect this event to be as popular as our Pumpkin Patch was in October," said Central Park N.C. Executive Director Nancy Gottovi. "The ornaments were sold out within an hour-and-a-half last year."

A limited number of additional ornaments will be made after the open house and will be available for purchase in the STARworks lobby Monday through Friday, Dec. 3-14, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Demonstrations will not be available during that time.

Thanks to an Economic Innovation Grant from the North Carolina Rural Center, STARworks Glass began its studio expansion project over the summer. The new studio has been up and running since late August.

STARworks Glass is a Central Park N.C. project. Central Park N.C. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the economy of the region by focusing on the sustainable use of our natural and cultural resources.

Proceeds from the ornament sale help fund STARworks programs, including the high school glassblowing program.

STARworks is located at 100 Russell Drive in Star, just off I 73-74 in northern Montgomery County.

For more information, call (910) 428-9001, or visit www.StarworksNC.org or www.CentralParkNC.org.