"Happy Birthday" Stamp Release Pop-Up Party, April 18 at Track 15

If there’s a group who knows how to throw a party, it’s the Greeting Card Association (GCA). To celebrate the unveiling of the first Happy Birthday stamp in five years, they’ve collaborated with the United States Postal Service (USPS) for a shin-dig held at Track 15 food hall in Providence. The Perfect Pairing Pop Up Party is planned for April 18, 2026 from 11am to 4pm and features a single-day retail market with vendors selling cards, stationery, stickers, and more. This day promises to be a special opportunity to connect stationery fans, independent greeting card makers, and stamp collectors, and is free and open to the public. 

The stamp's charming design is the work of acclaimed artist Lisa Congdon. Known for her colorful, graphic aesthetic, Congdon's themes often focus on joy, liberation, and inclusion. Her impressive client list includes institutions and companies such as The Library of Congress, MoMa, Target, REI, and Peets Coffee. The project was art-directed by Greg Breeding, one of the four art directors who regularly collaborate with the USPS, leading a team of researchers, painters, illustrators, photographers, and typographers.

Participating stationers at the Perfect Pairing Pop Up Party will be selling their greeting cards, stickers, and paper goods from small branded booths. Among them will be Marina Kishkovich, of Ampersand M Studio, a graphic design consultancy specializing in branding, packaging, paper goods, and typography, based in Smithfield, working with the USPS locally to organize the event. Also in attendance will be 2021 Co., a brand that started in the East Bay and is now headquartered in Fall River, MA. Related article: Connecting on Paper. 

“I think it’s no coincidence that the USPS is releasing a ‘Happy Birthday’ stamp just as America turns 250,” begins Sarah Schwartz, editor-in-chief of trade magazine Stationery Trends. “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.” Learn more at GreetingCard.org

Location:

Track 15, 1 Union Station, Providence