SALT RIVER QUILT SHOW

The Seventh Annual Salt River Quilt Show will be held the first weekend in October of 2024 at the Mark Twain Memorial Shrine in Florida, Missouri. As in the past, approximately 100 quilts will be displayed and wind their way through the museum and past the exhibits there. 
The quilt show is a special event for Missouri State Parks and a fundraiser for the Monroe County Historical Society. The $5 entry fee per quilt, 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, Missouri. Quilters may enter as many quilts as they wish. Entry forms are due Friday, Sept. 27, and can be obtained at the following link: https://mostateparks.com/2024-Quilt-Show-MTBSHS. 
The theme of this year's quilt show is "Centennial: 100 Years at Mark Twain State Park, 1924-2024." Categories in which quilts may be entered this year are as follows: 
 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, and ribbons and prizes awarded for Judge's Choice and People's Choice quilts and quilts in each of the above categories. There's still time to enter, quilters! We'd love to display your beautiful quilts! If you have any questions about entering your quilts in the show, please call Marianne Bodine at 573-248-9983. 
Three programs, approximately 30-45 minutes long, will be given 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, Missouri, will give a talk about her famous great-grandfather, who was immortalized in Norman Rockwell's painting, "The Country Editor." In addition, Mrs. Vanlandingham has graciously 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 to the public. 

The Mark Twain Memorial Shrine is located within Mark Twain State Park and Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site at 37352 Shrine Road, Florida, Missouri. For more information about this event, call 573-248-9983.