I will be going to Paducah for the first time and will be there for two days.
What are your suggestions?
What to carry?
What not to carry?
What not to miss?
Can you have a rolling cart?

Thanks,
Patti

Patti, good shoes or sneakers are a must.
So is money lol
A purse that you don't have to hold.

Have a wonderful time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup:

Water
comfy shoes
cash
credit card
driver's license
camera
back pack, or over your shoulder bag, ditch your purse for the day
small pad and pen
quart size bag to put business cards, etc
snacks
make time for the vendors, but don't forget to admire the quilts
Advil for the end of the day, your feet will be tired
BIG SMILE!!

Check on line, some shows only allow strollers or carts on the last day of the show.

Make sure you hit "Hancocks" it's not like the Hancock outlet stores. As much as I enjoyed the show. I had just as much fun checking out the area. The whole town makes you welcome. Have a Blast, I'm so envious, I wish I could go this year.!!

Have fun!
Wear comfortable shoes.
Take more money than you think you will need.
Go to Hancock's of Paducah, you'll not want to miss it!

All of the above. BUT, don't miss the quilt museum. If all you get to see there are the stained glass windows, it will be worth it.

A non-quilting must is the murals lining the riverbank - awesome.

Eleanor Burns has a 'big' tent at the park;;also a store
downtown. Don't miss them.

Don't miss the Boy Scouts strawberry shortcake for a treat.

I wanna go !!!!

In the lobby of the quilt show, don't forget to stop by the YO YO's of Paducah table. These ladies always have something special. Last year they showed how to make the bow tie block from charm squares with a few simple folds and hand stitches. It was worth a raffle ticket for the yo yo quilt to watch them demo how to make it.
Buy the pre cut batting squares! You can't miss the batting vendor. Piles of batting. The pre cut 20" batting squares are super cheap. Save your fabric money for E Burns tent sale and Hancock's back room. Eleanor has two tent shows twice a day and in between she is at the barn signing books and just visiting with everyone. Her downtown store has different fabric from the tent sale. Look for a big yellow sign outside a downtown building that says Fabric Sale. The quilt shop that vends it, has darn good buys on fabric. She is in a different spot every year as she gets whatever building is vacant at the time. You can walk from the show to the downtown area but you'll need to take the shuttle bus to Hancocks's and E Burns tent sale. Two days is plenty because Hancocks's stays open late. And don't forget to go to the Mall for lots of great vendors. I found the mall vendors had lower prices then the show vendors.

About 20 miles from Paducah there is another quilt show. It's the same days and it's worth going to if you have time. Lots of vendors other then the big quilt show vendors. I forgot the name of the town but it's very close by.

Their website says, "No Wheeled Carts

For the safety of all attendees, wheeled carts/bags/luggage are not allowed in the vendor/ exhibit areas; use the Package Check located in the Atrium of the Julian Carroll Convention Center and at the entrance of the Pavilion.

Wheelchairs with people in them and strollers with babies aboard are allowed. "

I knew this had been the case at all the previous shows I have been to but wanted to check since things could have changed.

They have a package check/claim and a mailing service right outside the vendor area and you can go in & out as many times as necessary if you would rather (& are parked reasonably close) put stuff in your car.

It sounds like they are back in the hotel again which is a good thing. The giant blow up tent last year was interesting but the noise of the fans was distracting.

Don't forget to check out the vendors downtown.

Spend 2 or 3 days if possible so you don't miss anything and don't wear yourself out trying to see it all in one day.

Do the vendors at the quilt show mark items down at the end of the show dates? Just wondering if it's smarter to wait till the last day to make purchases.

Places to stay are hard to come by this late. They book everything up early.

Is there a website about this show? I probably can't go, but I'd like to dream... :-D

http://www.americanquilter.com

If you look for places that aren't on the approved/recommended list, you might be able to find something. The first time I went (2005), we stayed at a Knight's Inn on the south side of town and just drove up to the show each day. Paducah isn't very big so it's not much of a drive. There was also a couple other motels in that area but I can't remember the names and they've probably all changed by now anyway.

I didn't notice any mark downs but you do get special show deals on the bigger stuff--sewing machines, long arms, Q-bot, PC Quilter, etc. I would imagine some of the vendors would rather sell than re-pack but I didn't notice any myself. Outside of the quilt show; Hancock's of Paducah has special deals and it's always fun to watch Eleanor Burns at her tent. Saying hi to all the famous (and infamous) quilters, authors & designers is fun, too.

It is the American Quilters Society and here is a link to their shows
http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/

Thank you BK and frarose~ :-D

Look for the cow. There are a lot of vendors there, too. Rotary Building, Eleanor at the fairgrounds. Get there early and stake out your seat, take turns with your friends shopping so that one is always there to save your seat. We've been on the front row the last two times. Can't go this year. Boo Hoo! Go down past the murals and just sit and watch the river for a little r & r. The big "marshmallow" but it is oh, so hot in there. No wheeled carts, please, and if you are in a cart, watch out for others, don't run over them.

Comfortable, well broken in shoes--fashion stops at the knees. Well fitting back pack or over one shoulder bag. Around the waist "fanny pack" for $$ credit cards etc. camera,
Don't miss Hancock fabric, the mall, the candy shop that is downtown by the art museum.

Been there 7 times and my daughter 12 and going again, not me though. Take your time and see the quilts a couple times, there are so many. Get there early to visit the vendors, gets very crowded. Free bus service and often private citizens will pick you up and take you to the show. They go all out to make you comfortable and welcome.
I enjoyed visiting the museum the most and some of the historic sites. Talk to everyone you see, people come from all over the world and even if you can't understand them, smile a lot. I took hand painted thimbles I made and gave them to people from other countries with a big smile to let them know Americans are glad to see them here. I received a guild pin from a young lady from Scotland one time.
Be yourself and treat everyone else like a long lost friend. Hancocks, Rotary club, the mall, the museum, the wall, downtown, Eleanor Burns and be prepared to walk alot.
Have fun and ask for help from anyone in a red jacket.
And the flowes are beautiful this time of the year.
Carol J.

I take address labels so if they have drawings you can put on an address label, and not have to take the time to fill out the entry form.

I heard all about Paducah and I wish I could go. I would say just unwind and have a good time. Don't buy the first thing you see and take lots of pictures, network and meet new friends!

I have never enjoyed a quilt show as much as Paducah.
I don't think you will want to fight the crowd with a cart (I'm not sure if carts are allowed) I suggest a bag, take snacks/water the lines are really long at lunch time.
Have fun.

Don't forget the First Presbyterian Dinner and the Broadway United Methodist Church Dinner. Great value - great price. Make reservations early.

Have fun.

take a small pad and pencil or pen. as you look thru the venders write down the booth number and what you were thinking about, so you can find it again easy. I just did that in Houston. I looked and made notes, then went back to buy and look some more.

o'yea, have fun

Be sure to hit the Eleanor Burns show and Fabric Tent at Carson Park. Well worth the trip. Each day she has a color of the day which is discounted just for that day. Fabric is usually
$5.00 per yard. Great Buys.

Comfortable shoes, fanny pack or small purse you don't have to carry. Money, credit card and if you have room checkbook. Some venders had difficulty getting wireless access for the credit cards, so I wrote checks. Don't forget your camera to bring back all the memories. I went last year and had a wonderful time. Have fun! Don't forget to go to Hancocks, it is wonderful.

All the above that others have mentioned. I've not been to Paducah, but we are going this year. We have been to other shows.

Remember to do a lot of stretching, bending over once in a while to stretch out your back. I was in so much pain for several days after the show from walking even with comfortable shoes. I will take a smaller purse this time around - and let my DH carry the bag of goodies!

Check out the web site and see what classes are being offered. They fill up fast so if you want to take any classes book them as early as you can.
I know there are several vendors that will be open down town in store fronts.

If the weather cooperates I suggest if you go out for lunch to take the time to visit the paintings on the River walls they are so pretty and tell a story of paducah. Otherwise just enjoy the expierence I sure did, I was only there once and had a ball.
Pickle

A friend of mine and I went to the mall....lots of vendors were there with some unusal items. But most of all have fun and enjoy all that is around you.

I understand there are vendors throughout town and in non-quilt-related commercial buildings. Is there a map posting the vendor locations?

I heard Saturday is the less congested day as it is the last day. What day do you think is best to attend?

Thanks!

I think taking a handful of pins to give/exchange is a great idea. I went to Newfoundland one summer and met a couple from Scotland who was giving pins of the Scotish flowers to those they met. It was a wonderful keepsake.

Better yet - print up some special labels with your phone number on them!

Take advantage of the shuttles! They are free, anywhere you want to go in town, and run frequently! You can probably find a map at the show.

Also, don't sign up for more than 1 class, or you won't have time to see everything else. If I go again, I won't take any classes!

Last year a vendor got very mad when she spotted a lady with a note pad and pen outside her booth. She said it wasn't allowed as the person could draw the vendor quilt patterns that were on display. Many vendor booths have a no pen and paper allowed notice and a few will not allow a customer to stand and stare too long at any one quilt on display in the shop. One vendor said they could memorize the pattern. :roll: I witnessed this by overhearing the vendor tell her helper to go interrupt the lady looking too long at the displayed quilt. I didn't give the vendors that had over the top rules posted any of my money. 8-)

I think everybody has covered the basics. The one thing I'll add is, rest often. Even if you don't think you need it just sitting down for 10 to 15 minutes every hour or so will really help by the end of the day.

Oh don't forget me!!! How lucky for you!!

These are great suggestions! This will be my 1st time attending and I didn't know what to expect. Thank you for asking the question and all that responded.