Inaugural Gee’s Bend Spring Yard Show celebrates local quilting tradition

Gee’s Bend Quilters is encouraging people to attend the inaugural Gee’s Bend Spring Yard Show.

The communitywide, open-air event along County Road 29 in the Wilcox County community of Boykin is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature quilts, handiwork and pieces of local history displayed in residents’ yards, continuing a longtime local tradition.

“Hanging quilts on the line brings back the good old days,” Gee’s Bend quilter Mary Margaret Pettway said. “It’s a sign of spring—a time of renewal, and a chance to give new life to the quilts.”

Unlike a formal museum exhibit, the Gee’s Bend Spring Yard Show is designed to offer a more personal, relaxed and community-led experience.

Visitors can walk the route at their own pace, stop to talk with residents and learn more about the people and stories of Gee’s Bend. Some quilters also will offer quilts and other handmade items for sale.

Visit Gee’s Bend, a community-led destination marketing initiative, organized the event in partnership with local residents, artists and organizations to support sustainable tourism in Gee’s Bend. The community offers year-round cultural experiences that visitors can explore through the Visit Gee’s Bend website and social media platforms, including @visitgeesbend.

“Through Visit Gee’s Bend, we’re building something that allows visitors to experience our culture in a way that benefits the people who live here,” advisory board member Gloria Carey said. “The Yard Show is a beautiful example of that in action.”

Gee’s Bend is requesting a suggested $25 contribution to help support the event, and organizers encourage advance registration. Online registration is available at events.humanitix.com/gees-bend-yard-show.

Independent vendors may offer food and refreshments along the route.

Registered guests will receive a map of yard locations by email during the week of the event. The first 100 registered attendees who contribute $25 or more also will receive a one-of-a-kind letterpress poster designed by Hatch Show Print to commemorate the event.

“The Gee’s Bend quilters are internationally renowned for their unique artistry, and the Spring Yard Show gives everyone a chance to get up-close and personal with these amazing quilters,” Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association Director Pam Swanner said. “This is a cultural experience that can only be found in Alabama’s Black Belt.”