Vermont Quilt Festival

As New England

New England

New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...

's oldest quilt

Quilt

A quilt is a type of bed cover, traditionally composed of three layers of fiber: a woven cloth top, a layer of batting or wadding and a woven back, combined using the technique of quilting. “Quilting” refers to the technique of joining at least two fabric layers by stitches or ties...

 event, the Vermont Quilt Fesitval has also grown into New England's largest quilt event. Featuring a weekend of quilt exhibits, contest quilts, classes taught by renowned quiltmakers, a champagne preview, vendors, lectures and appraisals, the festival is well attended by both beginner and expert quilters alike.

History

In 1977, the Festival started as a one-day show featuring both antique and new quilts. The following year contest quilts were added and by 1981 the Festival included classes and also appraisals of antique quilts.

Originally held in Northfield, Vermont

Northfield, Vermont

Northfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. It lies in a valley within the Green Mountains, and has been the home of Norwich University since 1866. The town contains the village of Northfield, where over half of its population lives. The population was 6,207 at the 2010...

, the annual event took place on the Norwich University

Norwich University

Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...

 campus until 2006. The Festival moved its venue to the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction, Vermont

Essex Junction, Vermont

Essex Junction is a village in the town of Essex in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,591 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on November 15, 1892....

 with classes held at the neighboring St. Michael's College

St. Michael's College

St. Michael's College may refer to:* Saint Michael's College, a private liberal arts college located in Colchester, Vermont, USA* St Michael's College, Adelaide, Australia, a private Roman Catholic primary and secondary school founded by the Lasallian Brothers* St...

 in Colchester, Vermont

Colchester, Vermont

Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 17,067 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest town in Vermont by population.-Geography:...

 where it continues to be held each year on the last weekend in June.

The Vermont Quilt Festival, Inc., a non-profit organization, will mark its 35th anniversary in 2011.

Notable Facts

The Festival opens with a festive Champagne and Chocolate Preview each year which has been attended by the Governor of Vermont.

Yankee Magazine, Quilter's Newsletter Magazine, Vermont Life, The New York Times

The New York Times

The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...

, Boston Globe, USA Today

USA Today

USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...

and Quilt Mania (France) as well as local media are just some of the publications that have covered the event.

It is consistently designated as a Top Ten Summer event by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and as one of the Top 100 Events by The American Bus Association.

External links

• Vermont Quilt Festival - official site
• Champlain Valley Exposition
• St. Michael's College