News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Over 120 quilts will be on display at multiple Algood locations this weekend during the 34th annual Upper Cumberland Quilt Festival.
Festival Coordinator John Allen said this is the largest, longest-running quilt festival in the state. He said the festival began as a fundraiser for the Algood Senior Center and continues to be the primary fundraiser for the center. He said the festival has grown in popularity every year since it began.
“We take them from anywhere,” Allen said. “We have people, we have a lady who drives up every year from Alabama and brings her quilts to enter them in our show, and she will be doing a special bed-turning. She will bring 20 quilts or so and tell a story about each quilt as they take them off the bed.”
Allen said quilts will be on display at the Algood City Hall, Algood Methodist Church, Hope Church, and the White Plains House. He said quilting is a significant art and he is thrilled to be able to showcase the work of some of the most talented quilters in the southeast.
“A lot of people love quilts,” Allen said. “And by doing it at this time of the year, people have been, you know, housed and locked up in their homes due to winter and cold weather and all of that, and they want somewhere to go in spring.”
She said the festival was moved to the spring after COVID. He said local businesses have raised some $4,000 to sponsor the event and some 100 volunteers will be stationed at the five locations to greet attendees, answer questions, and ensure the safety of the quilts. He said the Algood Senior Center also received a grant of some $7,000 to put on the event.
“They have to match whatever funds they get from the state and the county, and so the quilt show helps us help them match the funds that they use to help the programs that they do to help the senior citizens,” Allen said.
He said the event will feature two special exhibitions from Upper Cumberland families who are particularly adept at quilting and boast impressive collections. He said each location will be open Friday and Saturday from 9:00am-4:00pm with a $6 admission fee.
