A Quilter’s Destination Quilt Show Builds Community, Showcases Art, and Draws Visitors to Lancaster
-
Asia Tabb
Airedl July 29th, 2025.
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
What started in 2011 as a way to make quilting more accessible has grown into a popular series of free, community-driven events across the Northeast. A Quilter’s Destination Quilt Show is now a magnet for experienced quilters, curious newcomers, and international visitors alike — and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down.
“We run four quilt shows around the Northeast United States,” said show producer Aasta Deth. “Our basic principle is that we don’t believe you should have to spend any money to be part of it. So we always offer free admission, free parking, and make sure the locations are really easy to get to.”
The goal, she said, is simple: remove barriers and foster a vibrant, welcoming quilting community.
The show caters to seasoned quilters and first-timers alike, offering free lectures, hands-on demonstrations, and vendor booths featuring the latest quilting tools and technology.
“We get a lot of people who come in and say, ‘I’ve never done this before, but I had an interest,’” said Deth. “Almost every time, when people leave, they stop to say, ‘I learned something, I met so many people… this is my new thing now.’”
Even without a formal theme, the show’s rotating exhibits provide a wide range of styles and traditions, from antique quilts to modern art pieces.
Next year’s Lancaster-Lebanon Quilt Show, held in Lebanon, PA, will showcase work from the York Quilters Guild, Red Rose Quilters Guild of Lititz, and the Lebanon Quilters Guild. Attendees can also look forward to a special exhibition from the Christ Collection focused on patriotism and Americana, celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary. The Studio Art Quilters Association (SAQWA) will return with its cutting-edge fiber art.
Despite being free to attend, the show has a measurable impact on the local economy. “At our Lebanon show, we had groups come in from Michigan, New York, even South Africa and England,” Deth said. “They may not have come just for our show, but they came — and they spent money.”
Local restaurants, hotels, and small businesses see a boost. “There was one restaurant we kept recommending, and they had to start turning people away because the line got so long,” Deth recalled.
In addition to spotlighting local guilds, the show gives them a chance to fundraise and build membership. “They can talk to visitors, hand out information, sell raffle tickets. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
As the next year’s show draws closer, Deth says the focus remains unchanged: “We want to create a space where anyone — no matter their experience — can walk in, feel welcomed, and walk out with inspiration.”
