The annual Missouri Quilt Museum’s Airing of the Quilts is Friday, August 15th and Saturday, August 16th. Over 1,000 quilts will be on display in and around Hamilton, Missouri.

Billed as the largest airing of the quilts display in the Midwest, over 1,000 quilts will be displayed throughout the downtown area, at Hamilton homes and businesses, and at various venues around Hamilton, including the Missouri Quilt Museum. Maps are available at most downtown businesses.

The Airing of the Quilt is a tradition that dates back to colonial times. After a long cold winter, the women would pick a day in the spring to air out and freshen the family’s quilts over a fence, a clothes line, or across the porch. In some communities the quilts were taken out of summer storage and aired in the autumn, just before the cold weather set in. Over time, the local residents would stroll around the town and view all of the many different colorful quilts that were airing out, which brought the townspeople together in a social atmosphere. Often times, a community meal, concert or street dance was added to the festivities. The airing was repeated in late summer or fall in preparation for winter.

Quilts were necessities for warmth, but were also created and given for babies, for children, and for wedding gifts. Small lap quilts were given to elderly persons at home or in nursing facilities and quilts of valor presented to people in the military. These are timeless traditions that have lasted.

Other activities include vendor booths, food trucks, a quilt and toy sewing machine sale and bulk fabric sales.

There is no charge for the downtown or outdoor exhibits. Wrist bands are required for the indoor venues and the Missouri Quilt Museum. There is a $15.00 charge for the wrist bands. Bands are available at the Museum, on the museum’s website and all indoor venues.

Hours for the Airing of the Quilts are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., both days. The Missouri Quilt Museum is located a 300 East Bird Street in Hamilton.