OK ----my DH has offerred to take me ----and 3 friends to Paducah for the quilt show in April... He has reservations at an RV park .
We are all very exited as none of us have been there before. We will be there for thurs afternoon, fri and sat. What suggestions can all you experts make for us?????
I did look up a past site but thought maybe someone has some new ideas .......thanks. Sue in Mi.

ahhhhh....What a darling DH!!!! You will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!

I have been there only once (so no expert).... it is fabulous.

Enjoy!!

Make sure you got to Hancocks.

Get the strawberry shortcake outside sold by the boy scouts. Wear super comfy shoes. Cash. And personally, I have a 235 pound pack mule named JR. He's a good hubby. :D And loves to look at the quilts

Wallow in it! Its wonderful but very exhausing to try to do it all in one day. Split your visit into three days.... Go to Hancocks of Paducah one day, The Vendors mall the next day and then finish it off by seeing the quilts in all their glory! Enjoy, Enjoy!

When shopping the vendors - if you like it, buy it. It will be gone when you come back for it. They can only bring so much.

As there aren't many bargains at a quilt show, I buy what is rare for me to find in most LQS stores. At the quilt show vendor floor I always buy lots of the pre cut 18" batting squares, it's too good a value for a low price to pass up. You can't miss the batting table, piles of batting everywhere. The Fanmore scissor booth has great scissors, any type you need. Lots of thread booths. Look at the thread brand that is on most all the long arms set up to demo. The thread vendor that sells that thread has the best bargains. No bargain price on fabric at vendor booths but E Burns has her fabric tent sales and Hancock's of Paducah has the back room sale. Don't forget to go to the back room there. That's where all the charm packs, fat quarter bundles, jelly rolls, quilt kits and end of bolt fabrics are piled high. The main floor doesn't have many bargains but every fabric line you can think of is there. Don't forget to go to the Mall. Lots of vendors in the lobby there.

Before you go, you may want to take a look at some classes listed on the web--the AQS website. Most of the classes are filled up, but a few are left.

At the convention center, there are two floors of quilt displays and vendors. Its overwhelming to see all the artistic quilts.
Then there is Hancock's of Paducah, located a short distance from the Convention Center. Hop on the trolley and it will take you there--Lots of bargain end pieces in back of store--1st quality at about $5.00 a yard. Then the Eleanor Burns show is really good. Again, the trolley will take you there--no worry about driving and parking. She also has a tent set up with lots and lots of fabric on full bolts reasonably priced. The Quilt Museum is also a short distance from the Convention Center.

Wear comfortable shoes and take a lightweight bag. Vendors are there where you can eat lunch; however, they are pricey.

When is food at any event not pricey? LOL. I eat lunch at food vendors in the back, outside. Covered table and chairs to sit at. Just about all the vendors eat there and many of the quilt class teachers. Many quilt show attendees don't know about the outside back food vendors. They only see the outside front food vendors. There is a food concession inside the lobby of the quilt show but no table to eat at same as the front food vendors, no table or chairs. The restaurants downtown are fantastic but always crowded.

Wear comfortable shoes and have layers available with your clothing. A fanny pack instead of a purse so you can pet all the fabric and toys.

Be careful: I wore out a 3 pair of socks because I loved walking all over ... except to the Fairgrounds [then we took the shuttle.]

We did carry granola bars and water bottles. After all I am from Arizona and don't go anywhere without a water bottle. Only now I take the itty bitty ones and refil them easily at water fountains or where ever I can. These also weigh much less.

ali

ali

I think I'm going too!!! Yay!!!!

Oh, lucky you! Just have a great time!

A group of my friends and I go for the week! We have our favorites such as E.Burns tent. We go everyday because there is a different color each day that is discounted 50 cents a yard that day. And they get fabric in often by the truck load! We also enjoy the Rotary (on corner of main road into Paducah and where the Dairy Queen is. Thats also the road you turn down to go to E. Burns.) The Rotary has a small display of quilts as well as good vendors. There's lots of signage, you just have to watch for it. You can get a pass to visit again without paying again. We also like going downtown to the AQS building (sign over door) and E. Burns shop downtown as well as more vendors. I also second taking water and wearing good walking shoes. Take an umbrella because it always rains at least one day that week. The strawberry short cake is yummy! Have a Good time!

I posted this two days ago and a few people saw it, but I could never find it myself. You will love this. Here is what I wrote:

If you are going to Paducah, then you might like to print out this coupon to be spent at Eleanor Burns' store downtown or at the fabric fair at Carson Park. It is good for 30 per cent off one item or one cut of fabric. Got to love Eleanor!

http://www.quiltinaday.com/coupons/default.asp

Wow! Thank you so much!

Yes, thank you!

Yes, thank you!

Be sure and stop by the Rotary Club show. It is about 1/2 way from downtown show and the mall. Usually a very good display of antique quilts and one of the Hoffman Chalenge colections and different vendors than you will see downtown. Sew Batik is there The Stencil Co, Cherrywood has been there in the past. Cindy's Antique Quilts to name a few. Near there is Starns BBQ - very good.
There is also a food cart out back and a more relaxed place than some other places in Paducah.

I wish I was going.

Can I come to!!! Please, please, please. OK, you'll just have to take lots of pictures. Have fun and hope you find many great bargins.

Wendy

OK - let me get this straight (I'm going for the first time too). I knew about 3 different places to either see quilts or shop - the convention center, the museum, and Hancocks.

Now there is more? The mall? The rotary? Elenaor Burns?

I'll have to look these places up.

Lordy ... I'm only there two days!! And at that, hubby was going to come down with me until he found out I'd be there two days instead of just one and asked "what are you going to do with two whole days?".

DH & I just came back from there. The big white tent is up getting ready for the show. The Executive Inn has been torn down & is now a big pile of rubble near the convention center.

For the DHs, there is a railroad musuem and also a nice place along the river to sit & watch the tugs.