Get your stitch fix in Hill City

For more than 25 years, Hill City has celebrated the patience, craftsmanship, stories and people behind ordinary pieces of fabric becoming extraordinary works of art at the Hill City Quilt and Fiber Show. 

This Sept. 12-13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Gins Gym, the Heart of the Hills Quilters are once again putting the spotlight on the artistry and people behind the stitches.

Now in its 27th year, the show has grown from a small outdoor display of quilts into an event that brings makers and visitors together from throughout the Black Hills and beyond. 

“It brings so many people into Hill City,” said event coordinator Lori Comer. “Typically, we bring about 1,200 people in for the quilt show.”

With over 450 quilts and 110 fiber art pieces, this year’s event is seeing a record number of entries.

“I don’t know where we’re going to put them all,” laughed Comer. 

Choosing a red, white and blue theme in honor of America’s 250th birthday, the event will also feature a special section of Quilts of Valor.

“We’ve got 20 plus Quilts of Valor that our guild has made, much with the help of a couple of grants we got that helped us buy fabric,” said Comer.

One of the unique features of the show is the public voting system. Rather than using a panel of judges, the attendees can cast their votes for their favorite quilts and fiber arts entries, including the coveted Best of Show award, that comes with a $500 cash prize.

In addition, visitors can enjoy vendor booths, concessions, demonstrations and hands-on activities for children to discover the technique of quilting and fiber art. 

“She has a lot of different activities for them,” said Comer.

The weekend also includes a special Saturday evening trunk show featuring Anita Peters, who will showcase her own quilts as well as vintage quilts created by her grandmother and great-grandmother. 

“She will show them and tell a little story about each of them,” said Comer. 

Organizers are in need of volunteers to help hang quilts Friday, Sept. 11, beginning at 6 p.m. 

“If people aren’t at the football game, they should be at Gins Gym helping to hang all those 400 plus quilts,” said Comer. “We are feeding them.” 

Salads, sandwiches and desserts will be provided for volunteers, courtesy of Nana’s Kitchen. 

Admission into the quilt show is $7. Kids 18 and under are free.