Upcoming Quilts Festival Set for October 4, 2025
The fourth annual Airing of the Quilts Festival is set to take place on October 4, 2025, in the Gee's Bend community of Wilcox County. This year's event promises to be a vibrant and immersive experience, with a host of interactive programming, food trucks, entertainment, live musical performances, quilting demonstrations, and storytelling from the descendants of generations of Gee's Bend quilters.
The festival, open to the public, is hosted by organizing sponsors Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy, Sew Gee's Bend Heritage Builders, and Souls Grown Deep. For the second consecutive year, a hop-on/hop-off bus service will be available for $25, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the homes of Gee's Bend quilters, as well as the festival grounds.
One of the highlights of the 2025 festival will be the exhibition titled "Between History and Memory: Dinah Miller's Legacy in Gee's Bend". Dinah Miller, who was kidnapped in Africa and brought to Alabama in 1860 aboard the Clotilda, is the earliest known quilter in the Gee's Bend area.
The Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy, under the leadership of executive director Kim V. Kelly, will debut a newly designed quilt workshop/learning space on October 2. This new space was made possible through funding from The Daniel Foundation of Alabama and a grant from the Alabama State Council of the Arts. The workshop will be posthumously dedicated to the Reverend Lonnie Brown Jr., a community advocate who passed away earlier this year.
Last year, the festival attracted 2,100 people to Gee's Bend and this year, organisers expect at least 2,500 visitors. Adidas is the presenting partner for the 2025 Airing of the Quilts Festival, and the event has been named to Garden & Gun magazine's 2025 Bucket List.
The 2025 Airing of the Quilts Festival honours the living history of Gee's Bend, including its role in the American Civil Rights Movement. Pam Swanner, director of the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association, ALBBAA, stated that the Airing of the Quilts is one of the very best cultural events in the Black Belt.
Visitors to the festival will also have the opportunity to support the Gee's Bend quilt-making community. The event is free with a recommended contribution of $40. For those seeking a more guided experience, the $25 bus tour offers a unique insight into the lives and work of the Gee's Bend quilters.
The 2025 Airing of the Quilts Festival is more than just a celebration of quilting; it's a celebration of the resilience, creativity, and spirit of the Gee's Bend community. So mark your calendars for October 4, 2025, and join the Gee's Bend community in honouring their rich history and culture.
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