The Horry County Museum Quilt Gala has become a fixture on the Grand Strand.  Started in 1994, the first Gala was held on the lawn of the Horry County Courthouse.  The idea quickly caught on.  Over the years the Gala has continued to grow and is now held at the Ocean Lakes Family Campground Recreation Center in Myrtle Beach.

At the Gala many different types of quilts are displayed.  They represent a variety of techniques and skill levels.  The categories at this year’s Gala are large quilt, medium quilt, small quilt, wearables, and a challenge.  The large, medium, and small are divided by size.  The wearables are hand made garments sewn using a variety of quilting techniques.  The challenge category is based on preset restrictions.  A challenge always limits the quilter to certain size limitations and can place other restrictions on the quilter such as; colors, fabrics, or themes.  The 2016 Challenge theme is “Goin’ in Circles”. Each challenge quilt should be a wall hanging quilt and include at least one recognizable circle.  Winners of each category will be voted on by the public and will receive a ribbon. The blue ribbon winners from each category are displayed in the Horry County Museum during the month of March.

In addition to displaying quilts, the Gala also hosts demonstrators, speakers, and a featured quilter. Presentations will include Embellishments, a discussion on antique quilts, laser cut kits, and doodling your way to beautiful quilts. Participants will also get to hear Kathy Stuart, this year’s featured quilter, talk about wholecloth quilts. Along with the beautiful quilts, local and regional vendors will be on hand to support, consult, and aid the quilter with various quilting merchandise.

The Museum is grateful to have the support of local quilt guilds for many years to aid in the management, set-up, and break down of the Gala.

The 22nd annual Quilt Gala will be held Friday February 26^th from 10 am–4 pm and Saturday February 27^th from 10am-4pm. The admission is $5.00 per person; High School students and children 12 and under are free.