Festival of Quilts
Shepherd Middle School Gymnasium
Saturday, April 24, 2027
9 am - 5 pm
The Festival of Quilts is annually located in the Middle School Gymnasium and is a place of quiet admiration in the midst of more festival-type activities on the given Saturday! It is not a juried or judged show but, rather, a sharing of quilts created by individuals in the Mid-Michigan area or with connections to this area.
This year, the Festival of Quilts, 2026, was enjoyed by roughly 500 visitors on the Saturday of the 68th Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival. Sixty quilts were displayed on the floor racks, created by 35 quilters. A fan-favorite vote is taken of these quilts. (See the pictures on the website.) Our special yearly judged challenge area at the end of the gym displayed wall hangings displaying Michigan Moments. Three outstanding pieces tied for first place! The challenge for 2027 is to create a wall hanging representing Signs of Spring.
Our Featured Wall quilters were the members of the Sassy Stitchers quilting group. They had chosen to all create a patriotic quilt in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of our country. Fifteen quilters had the wall ablaze with 20 different red, white, and blue pieces.
Thank you to them for their colorful contributions to our annual show!
No smoking, vaping or dogs allowed in/on Shepherd Public School buildings/properties
Event Coordinator
Merrie Hammel mhammel47@gmail.com
Quilt Show Participation Information
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-There is no cost to exhibit a quilt.
-Due to space limitations each exhibitor may show a maximum of 2 quilts and 2 wall hangings (wall hanging must be 5’x5’ or less).
-Quilts will be hung with appropriate hangers, no pins.
-Please have your name on quilt containers.
-Provide a brief description of the quilt on the reverse side of application form.
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Quilts should be dropped off between 5-7 pm on Friday, April 24th, in the Middle School Gym (circle drive on the east side of gym) and picked up between 5-6 pm on Saturday, the 25th. You may be asked to show ID to pick up your quilt as efforts will be made to keep your quilts safe.
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Application Form
Provide a brief description of the quilt on the reverse side of this form. Quilts will be accepted for exhibit by returning completed forms to a committee member by April 20, 2026 or mailed to::Sherry Dickman
9474 E. Fremont Rd.
Shepherd, MI 48883
989-289-5819
she.dickman@gmail.com -
Questions can be directed to one of the following Festival of Quilts Committee Members:
Sherry Dickman (she.dickman@gmail.com)
Joan Faulkner (joan.faulkner11@gmail.com)
Natalie Hackney (nataliehackney@hotmail.com)
Merrie Hammel (mhammel47@gmail.com)
“It’s hard to describe the Festival of Quilts…”
Caleb Stevens
Media Coverage Chair
Words don’t come to mind on stepping into the middle-school gymnasium. Walking slowly, from one exhibit to the next, amazement is a never faltering opinion. It holds in silence or conversation, as with or without words the beauty is acknowledged. As is the skill of the quilter, and the time spent laboring.
A favorite is come upon, and its technical accomplishments are overwhelming; the next quilt hanging on the wall is beautiful and replaces it; and then another is simple and calm, and brings a smile.
Many of the quilts have a familial connection. There are some which have been inspired by husband or son. Some made alongside friends, in honor of friends, and with the support of friends—like with the Sassy Stitchers, who line the far-right wall. Some are given to grandchildren or stepdaughters. Others are made in recognition. It's impossible to separate the beautiful depictions of the quilts from their message.Within the Festival of Quilts, memories are dug up, perhaps for the first time in a long time.
Each quilt is personalized and evokes a feeling. The feeling changes depending on size; a large quilt might demonstrate skill, or determination, or serve a group huddled together under its warmth; and yet a small quilt carries every bit as much meaning. The feeling will change depending on the art depicted. It will also change depending on the life of the artists, as some turned to quilting in the lockdown of COVID, or as they battled cancer. Some quilts affect the viewer differently because the quilt is aged, rescued, an antique, or refurbished. The only consistency between every quilt and their feeling is awe.
On this day in particular, there is an uncommon treat in the corner of the gymnasium. Visiting the Festival of Quilts is the Country Quilters. They hand switch their artwork: elaborate and sizable pieces that take months. On a table, they work, demonstrating and teaching their craft. A visitor walks by and delves into a form of art they’ve never considered before. It's a truly special sight.
This is what makes the Festival of Quilts so special: emotion. From first stepping into the middle-school gymnasium, to leaving behind its doors, emotion can be physically felt. There are emotions tied to accomplishment, and encouragement, or a cherishing of others. There are emotions tied to the artist. It is emotions which hit from the second the middle-school gymnasium is entered. It is emotion that imbues the sense of awe.
And even now this emotion still lingers with me like the memory of something I’ve always known.
—First Viewing