Salt River Quilt Show to be held Oct. 5-6 in Florida, Mo.; entries accepted until Friday

FLORIDA, Mo. — The seventh annual Salt River Quilt Show will be held during the first weekend in October at the Mark Twain Memorial Shrine within Mark Twain State Park and the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site at 37352 Shrine Road, Florida, Mo.

The theme of this year’s quilt show is “Centennial: 100 Years at Mark Twain State Park, 1924-2024.” Approximately 100 quilts will be displayed.

The quilt show is a special event for Missouri State Parks and a fundraiser for the Monroe County Historical Society. The $5 per quilt entry fee to be paid by those entering quilts in the show goes to the historical society to aid in its efforts to preserve the history of Monroe County. Quilters may enter as many quilts as they wish. Entry forms are due Friday, Sept. 27, and can be obtained at https://mostateparks.com/2024-Quilt-Show-MTBSHS.

Categories in which quilts may be entered this year are:

• What’s the Buzz About? (wildflowers and their pollinators)
• A Walk on the Wild Side (wildlife past and present)
• Into the Woods and Water (what activities do you like to do in the great outdoors?)
• Hints of the Past (local history remembered – 1924 to 2024)
• Miscellaneous (anything goes)
• Youth (18 and under)

Quilts will be evaluated by an independent judge. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded for Judge’s Choice, People’s Choice and quilts in each of the above categories.

For more information about entering quilts in the show, contact Marianne Bodine at 573-248-9983.

Three programs, each approximately 30-45 minutes long, will be presented at the quilt show. On Saturday, Oct. 5, at 11 a.m., the park’s naturalist will talk about the wildlife and native plants of the park, including the park’s prairie restoration plot, and will touch on the amenities and activities available at Mark Twain State Park to campers and day users. Editor Jack Blanton of the Monroe County Appeal was president of the Mark Twain Memorial Park Association and largely responsible for bringing Mark Twain State Park into existence in 1924.

 At 2 p.m. on Saturday, Becky Vanlandingham of Paris will speak about her famous great-grandfather who was immortalized in Norman Rockwell’s painting, “The Country Editor.” In addition, Vanlandingham has allowed the museum to display artifacts from Blanton’s career, which are on display now through the end of the quilt show. On Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m., the park superintendent will give a presentation on the unique history of Mark Twain State Park.

Doors will open at 9 a.m. each day of the quilt show and will close at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6.

Admission to view the show and watch the programs is free.