Another great show has come and gone.
This year’s event had more guests, more vendors, more space, more learning, more emotion, and just more great fun!!!
Over 25,000 people came to Road this year. Men and women. Young and old. From Southern California, all around the United States, and across the globe. We met guests from England, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and even Serbia. 
This year we welcomed over 200 vendors – a 30% increase from last year. There was more variety, more fabric, and more non-quilting items available for purchase. Each booth was attractively decorated and alluring. The vendors were friendly, helpful, and eager to assist.
To accommodate our additional guests and vendors, a 2,800 square foot Pavilion was added to the south end of the Ontario Convention Center. Housed inside was more seating, more food venues, and more space for the extra vendors. It was air conditioned, carpeted, and had the feeling of an old fashioned country fair.
Learning and inspiration is a big part of Road. More classes were offered throughout the day and evening, beginning on the Monday before the show and continuing through the final day. New this year was a $5.00 Lecture Series sharing the history, process, and secrets of products familiar to the quilting industry.
Also new this year was a Daily Raffle. Guests had the opportunity to enter their chance to win wonderful prizes each day of the show. Every afternoon at exactly 3:30 p.m., the name of a lucky winner was announced throughout the venue. Crowds gathered at the north information desk hoping to hear their name and to catch a glimpse of the winner. The recipients were so excited, so thrilled, and so grateful for their prizes.
Probably the biggest highlight this year was the Veteran Presentation at the beginning of the show. In conjunction with Road’s support of Quilted in Honor and Operation HomeFront, Carolyn Reese presented a quilt she created to a deserving veteran of the Vietnam War. Many tears were shed in the Exhibit Hall during this memorable event.
The Reese family gives their heart and soul in providing this “Best in the West“ Quilters’ Conference and Showcase. Says Carolyn, “What brings me the most joy is seeing people walk around with a smile on their face, forgetting their problems and having a good time.”
In the coming weeks, the blog will be sharing in-depth, behind-the-scene stories of this year’s show. You won’t want to miss a single post as we remember the highlights of Road 2014.
What was your favorite part of this year’s show?
]]>Tags: Daily Raffle, Ontario Convention Center, Veteran Presentation
Now I’m regretting not going. I have only been quilting a few months. Sounds like it was amazing.
Natasha- Plan now to attend next year’s show, January 22-25, 2015. It will be our 20th Anniversary so you know it is going to be extra special. There is something for all level of quilters–especially beginners — at the show. But by then, you won’t be a beginner any more!!!
I LOVED THE QUILT SHOW…MY 9 YEAR OLD GRANDAUGHTER HAD A GREAT TIME AND ENJOYED ELEANOR AS WELL AS BEING INTERVIEWED BY CARYN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING THE PICTURES SHE TOOK ON THURSDAY EVENING. KATIE AND HER BROTHER BOTH WANT TO ENTER A QUILT SHOULD YOU PLAN A CHILDREN’S SECTION NEXT YEAR. THEY ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THEIR OWN SEWING MACHINE THAT THEIR MOM BOUGHT WHILE I WAS VISITING THEM. ONCE AGAIN CAROLYN…YOU OUTDID YOURSELF. PIECEFULLY, BARBARA
Barbara– It was so great meeting both of you. There is going to be a children’s sewing challenge next year for our 20th Anniversary. Stay tuned for the details.