Rolling Bags at Houston Quilt Festival
 

The question had come up on another board about taking rolling bags to Houston Quilt Festival. They haven't allowed them in the past, but I didn't see anything in the info this year about them not being allowed so I emailed them. I got a reply today (pretty fast since I just emailed last night)

Rolling bags are not allowed except for people who have medical needs. You must have a note from your doctor to use a rolling bag on the show floor.

If you do not have a medical need, I suggest you bring several tote bags with you and then check them as they fill up. There will be three locations for bag check in the lobby. It is $2.00 per bag.
Thanks,

FYI for anyone who is making the trip.

Good info to remember. Thanks for the hints.

Vendors all give away big tote bags but your hands get tired if you purchase a lot. I made a large bag with a long enough strap to go crosswise across my body with a zipper. My hands were free and small items were contained.

Last year I saw way too many of the rolling bags and they were not medical totes. They do take up way too much space and the people pulling them get really frustrated in not having enough room to maneuver them. Not as much as people on the mobility carts. At times, some got so frustrated that they just literally ran over walking people. When I am at the show I go to the aisles that don't have that many people on them. In the morning, it is the ones next to the food court. So, I go about half way and start going up & down the aisles. It helps that I usually go on Wednesday night and go ahead and buy a program. That way I get to map out the vendors I want to go see.

The bag check is great, too. I take a cheap lightweight bag in my big tote and when my tote gets heavy, I get out the other bag and fill it up and head for the baggage check. Then pick it up on my way out.

I agree, Barb, the rolling bags are a nuisance as are the scooters. Too many of the scooter riders aren't really very good drivers. I've been run into by more than one of them. A couple years ago there was an incident where a scooter ran into and vendor's table and knocked it and a woman standing there down. What a mess! Thankfully, the woman wasn't really hurt. I would have been SO mad!

Rolling bags and strollers indeed get in the way too often. The aisles are generally filled with people who have what I call a "Walmart Syndrome." They just wander along in their own little worlds and stop without thinking in the middle of walkways or block the aisles as they stop to chat with a friend. A little common sense and courtesy would go a long way, wouldn't it?

All that aside, I actually think I've convinced my wife that she needs to go with me this year. We will have only day, but I can probably find enough "stuff" to get me and my bank card into some trouble. Ha! Ha! We'll park our car in one of the outlying parking lots and take the Metro to the George R. Brown Convention Center. I won't have to pay to park the car, and I know that anything I purchase I will have to carry around with me. That in itself will prevent buying big items. That's my story, anyway, and I'm sticking to it.

What's wrong with paying for parking? Just wondering. Seems to take up a lot of time parking far away and riding again to get there.

I've seen several accidents involving rolling totes where people were tripped. I'm glad they are banned. A scooter or stroller in a large packed crowd? Give me a break!

I can understand the scooters -- some can't walk much and should be able to enjoy the event. Strollers with kids -- no -- they create issues. When I see someone with a scooter I step aside so they can get thru.

I have no problem with paying for parking. I pay the $20 a day to park diagonally across the street from the GRB. I'm usually alone and not really comfortable in downtown so that way I walk out the door, down the block and right across the street to my car. The parking attendants in that lot are also really nice and always wave to me after the first day which makes me feel safer.

They have the same rule here at the Hampton Roads Quilt show. I totally understand, I hate it when I have to take my little grandkids and use the stroller, just to tight of a space with so many people.