Seventh annual Salt River Quilt Show on Oct. 5-6 to focus on 100 years at Mark Twain State Park

PARIS, Mo. — The seventh annual Salt River Quilt Show, “Centennial: 100 Years at Mark Twain State Park, 1924-2024,” will be held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6, at the Mark Twain Memorial Shrine in Florida, Mo.

Doors will open both days at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. on Saturday, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to view the show and watch the programs is free to the public.

Approximately 100 quilts will be displayed and will wind their way through the Mark Twain Memorial Shrine and past the exhibits in the museum.

Three programs will be presented at the show, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday with the last one scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday. Becky Vanlandingham of Paris will be one of the speakers providing information on her great-grandfather’s efforts (renowned editor H. J. Blanton of the Monroe County Appeal) to establish Mark Twain State Park in 1923-24. Further information on show times and topics will be provided when known.

Quilt categories are:

• What’s the Buzz About? (wildflowers of Northeast Missouri and their pollinators)
• A Walk on the Wild Side (northeast Missouri wildlife past and present)
• Into the Woods and Water (outdoor activities: camping, hiking, birding, fishing, boating, kayaking, swimming-what do you like to do?)
• Hints of the Past (local area history remembered: What was here in 1924 and what changed over the next 100 years?)
• Miscellaneous (anything goes)
• Youth (18 and under)

Quilts will be judged by an independent judge and ribbons and prizes awarded for Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice quilts, as well as first, second and third place in each category except the Youth category, where only one ribbon and prize will be awarded.

Quilters may enter as many quilts as they wish. Quilters wishing to enter a quilt but not wishing it to be judged may indicate so on their entry form. Entry forms are due Friday, Sept. 27, and may be obtained at https://mostateparks.com/2-24-Quilt-Show-MTBSHS.

The event is a special event for Missouri State Parks and a fundraiser for the Monroe County Historical Society. The $5 entry fee per quilt is paid by the people entering quilts in the show. This fee goes to the historical society to aid in their efforts to preserve the history of Monroe County.

The Mark Twain Memorial Shrine is located within Mark Twain State Park and State Historic Site at 37352 Shrine Road, Florida.

For more information, contact Laurie Gossett at 660-353-0600 or Marianne Bodine at 573-248-9983.