Midwest Quilt Festival Week Extravaganza
August 20–23, 2025
Join thousands of Quilters and Art Appreciators while enjoying the best in international quilt and textile artistry.
Thousands of quilters and art appreciators converge on the Grand Rapids, Michigan area every year to enjoy four days of the best in international quilt and textile artistry. Hundreds of quilts will be on display, and tens of thousands of dollars in prizes will be awarded for quilting excellence each year. In addition, AQS QuiltWeek hosts a series of workshops with some of the top talent in the quilt industry and an extensive Merchant Mall comprised of both local, national and international vendors.
At the same time, a short 2.5-hour drive south in Amish Country of Northern Indiana, the Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail is at its peak and prime in August. Designated a Best of the Best by American Bus Association, this one-of-its kind experience starts annually May 30 and continues to September 15. We’ve packed 150,000 plants, with over 1 million blooms into super-sized gardens planted in the shape of Quilt Patterns in six welcoming communities along the 90-mile Heritage Trail and you have a quilters and gardeners dream tour.
With the bonus of exciting options, events, exceptional hands-on activities, dining and shopping, the Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail sets the stage for an exceptional group tour wrapped in quilting and gardening themes, packed with fun and sure to entice new clients all found in one of the nation’s largest Old Order Amish areas.
Bring your group to the Midwest in August and enjoy the best of quilting and gardening in this two state tour!
Amish Country of Northern Indiana for Quilters
Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail in Amish Country
Your local Master Gardener guide will take you down scenic backroads to each Quilt Garden sharing pattern information, insights, tips and tricks of the gardening trade to bring these living works of art to life. You’ll hear how over 200 volunteers work over four months to keep this project fresh, welcoming and beautiful for all to enjoy while dealing with fickle Mother Nature!
Enjoy the Quilt Garden at Krider “World’s Fair” Garden
Enjoy the Quilt Garden displayed at historic Krider Garden. Take time to stroll through the “World’s Fair” garden that blends a wide variety of plants, shrubs, trees and waterfalls with area history. The gardens were originally designed by Krider Nurseries for display at the 1933/1934 Chicago World’s Fair. The community restored those original garden elements for future generations to enjoy.
Amish Quilt Trunk Show
Rebecca Haarer, a nationally known quilt historian and collector of vintage Indiana quilts, tells the history of Amish quilting. In a format she describes as her “quilt museum on the road,” Rebecca shows vintage Amish quilts and discusses how they’ve been influenced by the Amish culture including how changes in society have affected the Amish and their quilts.
Amish Rug Weaving Demo & Whoopie Pie Break
Leo & Lorene Miller welcome you to their Old Order Amish home where Leo has been hand-weaving rag rugs for years.
Taught by his family, Leo will demonstrate how he weaves and creates his beautiful and functional rugs. Meanwhile Lorene, his wife, will serve you her fresh from the oven cookies and cold lemonade as both the Miller’s welcome your group and answer questions about their personal Amish lifestyle.
The Art of Traditional Quilt Making
Elaine Jones welcomes you to her homestead for an inside talk and look at the art of traditional quilt making. No fancy machines, software, or computerized programs are used in Elaine’s quilts. Shell discuss the process and creativity in choosing patterns and colors, how she marks, cuts, and sews her quilts all the traditional way. Hand quilting will be demonstrated, and she will explain her use of stencils to assist in her creativity. There will be numerous quilts, solid fabrics, and related quilt items available for sale by cash or check. Guests will enter their name into a drawing where one lucky winner will select one of Elaine’s designed and hand quilted wall hangings to take home as a fond memory. Following your quilt making presentation, your taste buds will delight in a fabulous meal served at the table with fresh foods, hearty meats, handmade breads, and delectable pies. You won’t go away hungry, and you’ll leave with a great appreciation into the style of traditional quilt making.
Wellfield Botanic Garden & Quilt Garden
Wellfield Botanic Gardens accepts as truth that mankind is inseparable from nature while sharing a natural and man-made environment of unique beauty that attracts, inspires, and educates. The Gardens is situated on 36 acres including 18 acres of water and includes a ½ mile paved walking trail-path to a variety of themed gardens featuring water displays, sculptures, plants and beauty of nature.
Intro to the History of Amish Quilting
Quilt making and woodworking are two of the most recognized art forms in Amish society. Rebecca Haarer, a nationally known Amish quilt historian and collector, will display up to 10 quilts made for children and adults in the northern Indiana Amish community since 1900. She’ll mix in interesting and informative bits about what makes an Amish quilt “Amish.” You’ll admire the hand-quilting, hear how marriage quilts were made, and see examples of scrap quilts created for everyday use. As you enjoy up-close viewing of these museum-quality quilts, you’ll have a chance to ask questions about the Amish quilt culture that is woven in their community. And you’ll leave with helpful tips to care for your own family quilt heirlooms in this 30-minute interactive program.
Quilty Note Cards at The Quilt Shop at the Essenhaus
Located inside a restored chicken barn, The Quilt Shop located on the grounds of Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury, offers an activity that will make one special “quilty” note card that is blank inside. Basic quilt block components in various colors (special green themed patterns will be featured for this tour in March) are precut and you can arrange them to create a quilt block for the front of your card. This is a beginner activity and only requires the ability to use a glue pen.
A short introduction talks about the history, technique, construction, and sample of a locally sourced quilt. Allow 30 minutes for one completed card per person.
Amish Country Backroads Quilt Shop Hop
Join a local expert quilter as your guide and travel the backroads visiting numerous locally owned, often times Amish, quilting and fabric shops. The first stop is Calico Point in Wakarusa, where fabrics (a couple of thousand bolts in stock at all times including batiks) are displayed on swinging racks. Visit Das Dutchman Essenhaus, Middlebury, where The Quilt Shop is located in an old corn crib - “full to the rafters” with Amish and locally hand-stitched quilts and wall hangings, quality fabrics, books, patterns, kits, notions, and a huge selection of stencils. Welcome to a Quilter’s “little bit of Heaven” found at Lolly’s Fabrics, in Shipshewana where you will find over 13,000 bolts of fabric, finished quilts, wall hangings, and an assortment of fabric collections. Round out your shop hop at Yoder’s Department Store, Shipshewana, where there is something for everyone inside the 50,000 square foot building including over 15,000 bolts of fabrics, notions, and patterns plus clothing, shoes and an Amish hardware store.
The Garden Cafe at Linton’s Enchanted Gardens Group Box Lunch and Shopping at the Garden Center
Welcome to Linton’s home of a large indoor gift emporium and expansive outdoor garden center where enchantment comes to life down every path. A petting zoo and animal center, train rides and “be young again games” complete the experience. The Garden Cafe features over one hundred handcrafted hot and cold drink choices plus fresh baked cookies. Groups enjoy a gourmet box lunch including your choice of sandwich served with veggie chips and Linton’s own mango lime salsa, a pickle, and soft drink.
Create a Wooden Quilt Block with Great Life Tours
Meet LaVern and Rachel, the Amish-Mennonite dynamic duo that has made Teaberry Wood Products one of Great Life Tour’s most requested stops. This experience appeals to men and women with a something-for-everyone flair! Groups enjoy one-on-one time with this artisan team creating a wall quilt pieced entirely with beautiful exotic hardwoods. The experience will include a woodshop tour, “weaving” demo, hands-on wood quilt kit with choice of materials and shopping time. Participants leave with an 8”x8” quilt block complete with engraved center tile and hanger. It is a work of art worthy of gifting or kept as a treasured memory of their travels. Highly collectible, a new pattern each season - keeping it fresh and new year after year. This is endlessly customizable with two frames, optional holiday and decorative laser engraved tiles available to choose from.
Emma Schrock Quilt Art Exhibit at the Nappanee Center
We are sure that you have heard of Grandma Moses, but have you heard it he “Grandma Moses of Elkhart County?” Not only does Nappanee serve as home to six nationally known cartoonists, and Air Force One pilot, and a NASA aeronautical engineer, but it also serves as home for the naïve folk artists Emma Schrock, who was of Old Order Mennonite faith. Growing up with physical challenges, Emma Schrock used painting to work outside of her home. Quoted as saying “I live what I paint, and I paint what I see,” Emma Schrock truly captured the Old Order Mennonite way of life, and it is an excellent example of what makes our area so unique. The Nappanee Center is now home to fifty-seven Emma Schrock paintings and has dedicated gallery for her works of art. Not only does the Nappanee Center tell the story of Emma Schrock but also the well-crafted storied pas of Nappanee including its cartoonists, kitchen cabinets, and so much more.
Experience Grand Rapids, Michigan for Quilters
American Quilter’s Society Quilt Week Grand Rapids
More than 450 quilts will be on display, in addition to a series of workshops with some of the top talent in the quilt industry at the American Quilter's Society Quilt Week.
Shop an extensive Merchant Mart, comprised of both local and national vendors. Special exhibits and evening events by world-renowned celebrities presenting their unique spin on fabric, quilting, and life round out the experience. Admission to AQS QuiltWeek includes access to all special exhibits and the Merchant Mall with hundreds of quilting items for sale. Hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
One of the world’s top 30 “must-see” museums showcases a diverse mix of indoor and outdoor gardens plus the Midwest’s most significant collection of outdoor sculptures.
Meijer Gardens is the 2nd most visited tourist attraction in Michigan and is an exciting day-long excursion for groups. The gardens offer a variety of experiences including year-round guided tours and comfortable tram tours of the outdoor grounds daily.
Downtown Market Grand Rapids
This dazzling food emporium includes an indoor market of artisan food vendors, greenhouse, teaching kitchens and more. Enjoy a snack or a meal, shop for farm-fresh goods and unique pantry items, even take a cooking class. Wonderful as a group meal destination by offering cash-redeemable gift certificates, the market is perfect for independent meals of any size.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Meyer May House
A meticulous restoration complete with original furnishings and faithfully-executed reproductions, the Meyer May House provides the rare opportunity to experience a Prairie house exactly as Frank Lloyd Wright intended. Group tours are free of charge but are subject to availability. Photo credit: Steelcase, Inc.
Grand Rapids Public Museum
A place of never-ending inspiration and discovery with a focus on science, history and culture. With fascinating exhibits on three floors, the museum offers a unique and entertaining experience for everyone. A convenient drop off location for motorcoaches is available at the main entrance, under cover from the weather, and an elevator inside ensures access for everyone. The Museum Cafe overlooks the Grand River and the city center and offers homemade soups, snacks, salads, sandwiches, desserts and a daily special. Don’t forget to make time for a stop at the Curiosity Shop!
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Experience America’s most entertaining presidential museum, a multimedia tribute to the life and times of the city’s most famous son. The exhibit teaches democratic citizenship and allows for quiet reflection. In addition to the permanent exhibits, changing temporary exhibits draw artifacts from museums all over the country.
