Barn Quilt Festival Planned

The Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County, Inc. will host the first annual Barn Quilt Festival on Sunday, August 1, 2010.  The Festival is a celebration of Garrett County’s Barn Quilt Trail, the first of its kind in the state of Maryland.

Barn quilts are painted quilting designs displayed on the sides of barns.  The Barn Quilt Trail is a self-guided driving tour across the area to view the artwork and enjoy the countryside.  The project focuses on the agriculture, heritage and natural beauty of the area while giving folks an activity to enjoy with the entire family.

This year, the Barn Quilt Festival will be held on the grounds of Cove Run Farms Corn Maze, Griffith Road, Accident.  The event will take place from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. and include the unveiling and dedication of a new barn quilt block which will become part of the tour.  Admission to the festival is free.

Included in the day’s fun will be art and craft vendors displaying and selling their wares, a brown bag auction, recognition of current barn quilt owners and sponsors, carriage rides, and live music.  Children’s games and a coloring contest will take place.  The tour of the corn maze will be available at a reduced cost.  The popular local band The Sugar Foot Stompers will provide the musical entertainment throughout the day.  Food will be provided by Jearbryo’s and Lakeside Creamery will be selling their locally made ice cream.

At approximately 2:00 pm, a live auction will be held.  Numerous donors have provided a variety of items to be sold with the proceeds benefitting the Barn Quilt Association.  Attendees can bid on golf packages, overnight stays at local bed and breakfasts, a beautiful stained glass hanging, an Amish made replica of an old barn, wood burned barn quilt plaques, a watercolor painting of a local farm scene, restaurant gift certificates, quilted wall hangings, a butter churn and other antique items, and many other items of interest.  In addition, the Barn Quilt Association will be selling collectible merchandise with the images of the current Garrett County quilt block designs.  Limited edition lapel pins, magnets and a poster featuring the first series of barns will be available.

Festival attendees are encouraged to take the entire driving tour as part of the day’s events as well.  Maps and locations are available from the association’s web page and be provided on site on August 1.

The mission of the Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County, Inc. is “to provide a sustainable heritage tourism attraction/activity while preserving and celebrating the unique agriculture, history and arts culture of our area through visual combinations of barns and quilt designs, to educate the public and showcase our Appalachian tradition.”

For more information on the Barn Quilt Festival or the association, visit the web site at www.garrettbarnquilts.org , email info@GarrettBarnQuilts.org or call 877-577-BARN (2276).