Quilting Shows in Michigan
Michigan is home to one of the Midwest's strongest quilting communities, anchored by AQS QuiltWeek Grand Rapids — a major national quilting event featuring 250 juried quilting exhibitors each August. The state's quilting tradition draws on Dutch heritage in Ottawa County, the Ann Arbor art fair culture, and an active network of guilds from the Upper Peninsula to the Detroit metro.
From the Tulip Time festivals in Holland to the Sunday Artisan Market in Ann Arbor, Michigan weaves quilting and fiber arts into its broader craft show landscape. The Michigan Folk School offers hands-on workshops in traditional textile skills, and the state's 83 county fairs routinely feature quilting competitions.
Top Quilting Events in Michigan
- AQS QuiltWeek Grand Rapids — Grand Rapids; August 2026; 250 juried quilting exhibitors; one of the American Quilter's Society's premier national events with workshops, classes, and a vendor mall
- Ann Arbor Art Fair — downtown Ann Arbor; July 16-18, 2026; nearly 1,000 artists across three juried fairs; close to 500,000 attendees; the largest juried art fair in the US with fiber arts representation
- Tulip Time Artisan Market — Ottawa County Fairgrounds, Holland; first weekend of May; 300 juried handmade vendors including quilters; free admission
- Detroit Urban Craft Fair — Detroit Masonic Temple; December; 100+ indie artists including textile and fiber artists
- Handcrafters Markets (Plymouth) — near Detroit metro; Spring Fling (March), Fall Fair (October), Tinsel & Treasures (December); 80+ Midwest artisans
What to Expect
AQS QuiltWeek Grand Rapids is Michigan's signature quilting event and one of the most attended quilt shows in the Midwest. The American Quilter's Society brings 250 juried exhibitors, a full week of classes and workshops, a vendor mall with fabric and quilting supplies, and a juried quilt competition that draws entries from across the country. Grand Rapids' DeVos Place Convention Center provides a large-scale venue that accommodates the show's national audience.
Holland's Tulip Time festival each May includes artisan and makers markets with quilting vendors among 300+ juried exhibitors. The Dutch heritage of Ottawa County shows in textile traditions that have been carried forward through local guilds. The Ann Arbor Art Fair — the largest juried art fair in the US — includes fiber artists among its nearly 1,000 exhibitors each July, drawing close to 500,000 attendees over three days.
Michigan quilting guilds are active in every major metro — Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Traverse City, and beyond. The Michigan Folk School offers workshops in weaving, spinning, and other textile traditions. County fairs across the state's 83 counties routinely include quilting competitions and home arts exhibitions during their summer and fall runs.
Popular Cities for Quilting Shows
- Grand Rapids — AQS QuiltWeek; ArtPrize ecosystem; Made Market; Downtown Market handmade marketplace
- Ann Arbor — largest juried art fair in the US; Sunday Artisan Market; Maker Works makerspace
- Holland — Tulip Time Artisan Market; Dutch textile heritage; Ottawa County quilting community
- Detroit — Urban Craft Fair; Mercantile Fairs at Eastern Market; resurgent maker scene
- Traverse City — Downtown Fine Art Fair; northern Michigan tourism-driven summer craft circuit
See all craft events in Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AQS QuiltWeek Grand Rapids?
AQS QuiltWeek Grand Rapids is a national quilting event produced by the American Quilter's Society, held each August in Grand Rapids. It features 250 juried exhibitors, a multi-day class program, a vendor mall with quilting supplies and fabric, and a juried competition showcasing quilts from across the country. It is one of several AQS QuiltWeek events held nationally.
When is the best time for quilting events in Michigan?
Summer is the peak. AQS QuiltWeek runs in August, the Ann Arbor Art Fair is in July, and Holland's Tulip Time markets open in May. County fairs with quilting competitions run July through September. Holiday craft markets in November and December — including the Detroit Urban Craft Fair — round out the calendar.
Are there quilting classes available in Michigan?
Yes. AQS QuiltWeek offers a full week of classes during its Grand Rapids event. The Michigan Folk School provides workshops in weaving, spinning, and other textile skills. Maker Works in Ann Arbor is a 14,000 sq ft nonprofit makerspace with textile tools and programming. Local quilt shops and guilds across the state offer classes year-round.