From 10am crowds flocked to the 100-year-old Kingston Powerhouse to enjoy market stalls, explore exhibits by some of the world's best glass artists, and get creative with the fascinating medium.

Event organiser Wendy Dawe said the aim of the day was to give the public a greater understanding of glass and recognise Canberra was one of the "world's glass capitals".

"By 11.30am we'd had more than 1000 people through the doors," she said. "Rain certainly hasn't deterred the crowds from coming out."

The 12-hour program featured a series of workshops allowing the public to explore the various ways glass is cast, fired and blown.

Mrs Dawe's children, Beatrice, 6, and Lucy, 4, were eager to get stuck into creating wintry snow globes from recycled jam jars.

Jane Marshall, of Red Hill, said her two children, Katie, 9, and Liam, 7, spent the afternoon making snowflake tiles designs that were later fired in a ceramic kiln.

"They were each given a clear glass tile and after putting on their safety goggles the instructor, Lucy, talked them through how to use the glass cutter and pliers," she said.

Using smaller pieces of colour glass the children created designs – Katie called hers the Ice Volcano and Liam's design was Fire.

"The hands-on element was the winner," Mrs Marshall said. "It gave the kids a full appreciation of glass, where it comes from and how it can be used. I know already they'll want to come back for another workshop."

After a busy day on the tools crowds can enjoy live music and mulled wine or wander through the glow garden where objects, some shaped like stalactites, will be artfully lit up with colourful glowsticks.