The National Quilt Museum partners with Quilt Alliance each March to kick off the official celebration of National Quilting Day during National Quilting Month. You can make any day a "quilting day" with this guide to a quilt-inspired Paducah, Kentucky experience featuring 10 ways you can celebrate the fiber arts in Quilt City USA®!
Enjoy BEST OF SHOW | AQS QUILTWEEK THROUGH THE YEARS for a selection of video clips from past QuiltWeek events featuring Best of Show quilts, beloved special events and more fun in Quilt City USA®! Subscribe for Celebrate Quilting Updates to receive the latest Paducah itinerary inspiration, news on upcoming fiber art exhibitions, workshops and AQS QuiltWeek - Paducah.
1. The National Quilt Museum
Named one of the "South's best museums" by Southern Living, this contemporary space is guaranteed to wow both quilters and non-quilters alike! With a 600+ piece collection and rotating exhibitions in-facility and on Quilt Museum Digital, the National Quilt Museum invites new and expanding audiences to encounter the art of quiltmaking during its 30th anniversary year.
2. Hancock's of Paducah & more Quilt & Fabric Shops
Celebrating more than 50 years as "America's favorite fabric store," Hancock's of Paducah presents a one-of-a-kind shopping experience — available online while the retail store is closed to the public. Allow ample time to fully immerse yourself in the other locally-owned quilt and fabric shops around town including English's Sew & Vac, Calico Country, Artist Endeavors, Tuscan Rose and more.
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3. Quilt Block Trails
Take a leisurely drive on the McCracken County Quilt Block Trail! Follow this scenic route for more than 30 quilt blocks on barns and buildings throughout Paducah and McCracken County. Continue on to the nearby Calloway County Barn Quilt Trail, one of the largest in the region, for even more quilt patterns.
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4. Quilt City USA® & "Wall to Wall" Murals
Follow progress on the new Quilt City USA® Murals Project across from the Paducah-McCracken County Convention Center, site of AQS QuiltWeek - Paducah. Then continue along the floodwall for the iconic Paducah "Wall to Wall" Murals, a patchwork of portraits from Paducah's past, and more murals featured in the new Paducah Mural Art Experience map and guide.
5. Yeiser Art Center's Fantastic Fibers
Host of the international Fantastic Fibers exhibition each spring, Yeiser Art Center features a constant flow of innovative exhibitions and events. Pose on historic Market House Square with Yeiser's mascot, the red yak, and tag #YACpack to share!
6. Local Art Galleries & Collectives
Expand your view of our UNESCO Creative City at art galleries and collectives specializing in Paducah-made goods, from textile art to paintings, local music and more. Browse Art Guild of Paducah, Bricolage Art Collective and PAPA Gallery in Historic Downtown and shopping throughout the city.
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7. The Lower Town Arts District
In this artist enclave, entrepreneurial and creative spirit collide. Meet working artists with open studios and retail hours like leatherworker Phil Phillips of Round Oak Leather, or enjoy rotating exhibitions of fiber art at the new Barbara Veazey Antiques & Fiber Art. Don't miss the Bill Ford Gallery and Kitchens Cafe at Paducah School of Art & Design and nearby Jefferson Street Studios, featuring Helene Davis' hand-dyed fabrics and art quilts.
8. Workshops & Creative Experiences
Paducah sets the stage for you to learn and create. Explore the multi-day workshop schedule at Ephemera Paducah, the American Quilter's Society's online iQuilt platform and variety of fiber art-focused workshops or hands-on experiences in many other creative interests, many available virtually.
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9. Quilt History
American heritage and quilting converge in the heart of Paducah. See a Civil War-era loom and quilts at the Lloyd Tilghman House & Civil War Museum and hand-stitched quilts of Robert E. Lee's family at William Clark Market House Museum.
10. Awe-Inspiring Architecture
Paducah's architectural treasures await to captivate and inspire. Our Historic Paducah Audio Tour will introduce you to Paducah's riverfront, historical markers and other landmarks. The tour includes a selection of pristinely-preserved churches like Grace Episcopal with a polychrome-style slate roof reminiscent of quilt blocks.
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Share your #PaducahCreativeCity Story
From the National Quilt Museum to the great outdoors, we want to see how Paducah inspires you! Tag #PaducahCreativeCity to show the world how you celebrate quilting.