SOUTH SHORE, Ky, — The South Shore Quilt Festival brings creative colors and impeccable music to the nearby river community.
Last weekend, approximately 10,000 or more people came through this long-standing free admission event for South Shore, KY. Activities for visitors of all ages could be found from bouncy houses, craft vendors, food trucks, a quilt show and live music. There was something for everyone to enjoy.
Rotary Park has hosted the event for the past eight years, and the city has been taking steps to make it more accessible to seniors in the area.
“It’s gotten bigger and better. They’re doing all kinds of things in the city all the time to approve new things. We’ve got our new walking trail, we’ve got asphalt through the park and things like that now. The city has really made some improvements trying to fix this place up,” said Dave Piatt, director of the Greenup Senior Center and chairman of the deck display.
Friday set the scene: a good day with good weather and a good mood to start the weekend.
11 a.m. marked the start of the quilt viewing, where visitors could see the work of local artists who put countless hours of work into their projects. The handcraft represents an age-old, Appalachian tradition of quilt making that is still proudly maintained.
“Some of these quilts have been in the works for two or three years. Hundreds of man-hours go into these,” Piatt said.
Quilting is something that is of great importance to many members of this area, as countless people here have owned or witnessed generations past of intricate quilts, often made for a birth or other similar event. .
Many have fond memories of the barns along the back roads of Ohio and Kentucky with intricate patterns painted directly onto their structures.
The Quilt Festival showcases crafts displayed in over 30 exhibits throughout the week.
“[Quilt Festival] it’s something that happened naturally because a lot of these women used to quilt,” Piatt said. “Our population just thought that would be good. It turned out great.”
Later in the evening, live music was played by local artist Darrell Armstrong. Festival-goers were then treated to an auction and a final musical act performed by Bobby Blanton and Matt Justice.
Despite the threat of rain, Saturday morning hosted numerous activities for the children. An appearance of the mobile Book was an instant success. Various other games and crafts were held in the late afternoon.
The quilts remained proudly on display in the Town Hall Administration Building during festival hours for members to view as they pleased.
A live performance by the Rock Bottom Band set the tone for the musical evening. Fans tapped their feet and shook their heads during the acts. Soon after, local band, Creek Don’t Rise, took the stage to perform a mix of covers and original music. River Jam was the closing act of the evening, which also got a positive reaction from the audience.
Creek Don’t Rise will be performing on the last Friday of this month at the Three Bridges music venue in Portsmouth’s historic Boneyfiddle.
Sunday’s schedule consisted of a car show at 1:00 p.m. More than 40 vehicles were on display for the public. Children and adults alike passed through rows of vintage steel with smiles and fascination adorning their faces. Small children’s arms extended toward the vehicles only to be crushed by accompanying parents.
“Look, but don’t touch,” said a father to his son.
Musical entertainment for the evening came from the bands Crossover and Broken. The acts made a pleasant closing of the event.
“This is the 22nd year we’ve been able to have the festival, and it has grown in many ways. The city has new asphalt and parking, and every year it’s a better situation than the year before,” explained Piatt. “It’s a chance to socialize and visit, see old faces and old friends.”
Visitors to the free event praised the live music as well as the love for the annual auto show.
Assistant Tim Carter says more: “I’ve been coming since I was a kid, probably 23 years old. It’s a great way for the community to come together.”
As the Quilt Festival comes to a close this year, it provided a unique experience for South Shore citizens and those who chose to attend. The Quilt Festival took place September 23-25 at Rotary Park in South Shore.
The Quilt Festival is made possible by the Kentucky Heritage Council and the City of South Shore.
A crowd gathers at the festival
An exposed quilt
Creek does not rise
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