Expanded event expected to draw thousands to Black Belt
The third annual Airing of the Quilts in Gee’s Bend celebrates the tradition of outdoor quilt displays and offers a unique glimpse into the historic community of renowned African American quiltmakers.
“This is an artistically advanced community,” said Kim V. Kelly, executive director of Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy. “That legacy can be traced to families who have lived here for over 200 years. People will learn, experience, and enjoy so much while they are here.”
Set for Saturday, Oct. 12, the festival introduces new attractions, including an exhibition titled “Just Look Where He Brought Me From: The Family Quilts of Mary Lee Bendolph” at the Gee’s Bend Welcome Center. Bendolph, a highly regarded quiltmaker, created the 2024 featured festival quilt. Visitors can also explore a permanent exhibition, “A History of Gee’s Bend from 1816 to the Present,” at the River Gallery.
Oklahoma-based textile artist Rachel Hayes will make her first trip to Gee’s Bend to collaborate on a public art installation with local quilters like Essie Bendolph Pettway and Mary Margaret Pettway.
This year’s festival offers a park-and-ride service from Ellis Landing in Camden, with shuttle service to the ferry. Attendees can ride the Gee’s Bend Ferry as pedestrians and enjoy expanded transportation options to visit the homes of quilters and other historic sites.
A new hop-on, hop-off bus service will be available in Gee’s Bend, and tickets can be purchased online for the festival, bus service, and quilting workshops. The Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy will also offer guided museum tours highlighting the local cooperative’s history and role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the festival will feature live music, including a performance by the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church choir. Visitors can also enjoy quilting workshops, children’s activities, and readings by authors Tangular Irby and Tinnie Pettway. Local food vendors will provide regional cuisine.
The festival saw 1,400 visitors last year, and organizers expect attendance to double this year, thanks to the expanded transportation options.
