Cast Your Vote at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum’s Annual Quilt Show

The Annual Quilt Show at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum runs from September 30 to October 29, making it an ideal activity for fall visitors. This year, 101 quilts have been submitted for viewing through the Heritage Quilt Guild of McMinn County and judged by an expert quilt evaluator and the general public.

“This is our 41st annual Quilt Show, which has grown in popularity since it debuted in 1984,” says Brett King, Executive Director of the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum. “We had 300 quilts displayed one year, before the museum had so many permanent exhibits. We have limited space now, so we can’t display that many anymore.”

Visitors travel to McMinn County, Tennessee, for the Annual Quilt Show and stay to explore the rest of the Living Heritage Museum and other sites around the region. If you aren’t familiar with the skill and expertise of quilting, prepare to be amazed by what local crafters put together. 

Quilting Reflects the Ingenuity of American Women

American women made quilts during the colonial period to reuse scraps of clothing and stay warm during the winter. During the 17th century, access to fabric was a privilege, and there weren’t mass-manufactured textiles that people could easily buy. When old clothes wore out, they didn’t go to waste. Women turned the scraps into quilts, giving the fabric a new life.

Quilting also had another unique fabric source: flour sacks. During the early 20th century, flour and feed sacks were sold in fabric bags that women could use to create clothes for children, dresses for themselves, and quilts to warm the family during winter.  

As women quilted through the centuries, they developed new techniques and designs for their creations. They started sewing memories into their quilts or creating patterns inspired by nature or the world around them. This led to modern quilting, an art form with intricate designs and textiles.

“The technology to make fabric has evolved, but people still make heirloom quilts that will get passed down from one generation to the next,” says Toni Stevenson, President of the Heritage Quilt Guild of McMinn County, Tennessee.

Quilt Show Participants Compete for a Variety of Awards

The Living Heritage Museum hires a professional quilt judge to review each year’s submissions. They spend over eight hours reviewing the quilts and critiquing their stitching, patterns, size, and style. The judge then hands out awards for nine categories, issuing first, second, and third-place ribbons.

Visitors to the annual Quilt Show can also contribute to the award process. They receive a slip of paper to vote for their favorite quilt. The quilt with the most votes by the end of the month receives the Viewer’s Choice ribbon.  

You don’t have to be a quilt expert to cast your vote, says King. All you need is to find the quilts that interest you the most. You might be called to one because of its brightness or enjoy a particular theme in another.

“Everyone has their own taste,” Stevenson adds. “When most people come to the show, they don’t look at the tension or stitching. They focus on what makes their heart sing.”

Finally, the Heritage Quilt Guild of McMinn County issues the Ann Davis Legacy Award, a ribbon honoring the former executive director of the Living Heritage Museum. Davis worked at the museum from its founding until she retired in 2023. She established the Quilt Guild, and many people credit her with making the annual event as popular as it is today. Davis selects the winning quilt herself.

The Guild designs the ribbons for the Viewer’s Choice and Ann Davis awards. They are handmade and beautifully done. 

There’s Plenty to See at the Living Heritage Museum

While the Quilt Show is enough of a draw to McMinn County, many people linger and enjoy the 30 permanent exhibits in the Living Heritage Museum. There is more than 17,000 square feet of exhibit space across three floors, displaying more than 12,000 artifacts relating to McMinn County and American history as a whole.

Visitors can focus on a particular era that interests them, from the displacement of the Cherokee in the region to McMinn’s role in the Battle of Midway during WWII. There’s also plenty of information on the Battle of Athens, one of the most notorious events in local history.

King encourages visitors to check the events calendar when planning their visit to the Living Heritage Museum to see what activities are planned. There are lunch-and-learns, animal visitors, craft tutorials, and musical performances that bring history to life. King also recommends becoming a member, which allows free admission for tours and programs throughout the year.

Avid quilters can consider submitting their creations to next year’s Quilt Show and can also join the Heritage Quilt Guild. There are currently around 75 members. 

Plan Your Visit to McMinn County

There are plenty of things to do in McMinn County, whether you are visiting with family or enjoying a romantic getaway as a couple. Check out some of our suggested itineraries to help you plan your visit. You can also look for upcoming events around town that match your interests.

Spend some time in McMinn County and see why so many people love it here. Your relaxing vacation awaits.