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The Greeting Card Association (GCA), in collaboration with the United States Postal Service (USPS), will host a first-of-its kind public event — to which all are invited. The Perfect Pairing Pop Up Party will happen April 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern at Track 15 in Providence, Rhode Island.

The USPS has not released a “happy birthday” stamp in five years, and the Perfect Pairing Pop Up Party will commemorate it with the fanfare it deserves. For this will not be your average pop-up. Participating stationery makers will be selling their greeting cards, stickers, and paper goods from small branded booths. Many have won the prestigious Louie Award (the Oscars of greeting cards) and have been covered in national press — including the recent New York Times feature on Valentine’s Day cards. All of the brands carefully craft sentiments from the heart, by the hand to help others observe milestones big and small.

While these makers are found on the shelves of beloved independent shops throughout Providence, as well as in national retailers like Barnes & Noble and Paper Source, this pop up offers a rare opportunity to connect directly with the minds behind the cards and truly immerse yourself in small houses of American design. For anyone who has ever flipped over a card to see who made it, this is a chance to learn more. Expect a fresh, festive atmosphere of discovery for stamp collectors, stationery enthusiasts, greeting card artists, postcard fans, and anyone with a birthday — that is, everyone!

“I think it’s no coincidence that the USPS is releasing a ‘Happy Birthday’ stamp just as America turns 250. However, The Perfect Pairing Pop Up Party promises to be so much more than an incredible stamp release by one of America’s top illustrators. It’s a celebration of our incredible analog medium that encourages us to put our devices down and authentically connect with ourselves and others. And that’s a gift we can all use about now,” said Sarah Schwartz, editor-in-chief of Stationery Trends.

The Perfect Pairing Pop Up Party celebrates the enduring connection between handwritten correspondence and stamps, highlighting the creativity of independent makers while honoring the joy of sending birthday wishes through the mail.

The Perfect Pairing Pop Up Party is free and open to the public.