Craft Shows & Fairs in Sisters, Oregon
Sisters is a small town with a craft event reputation that reaches around the world.
Also within 50 miles of Sisters, OR
Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo
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Redmond, OR
About 18 mi from Sisters · Redmond, OR
Every July, the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show draws international visitors to see more than 1,300 quilts displayed on downtown buildings, fences, and storefronts along Cascade Avenue. It's free to attend. It happens on one single Saturday.
It is widely recognized as the world's largest outdoor quilt show.
Sisters' Craft Show Scene
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show takes place in mid-July.More than 1,300 quilts from artists around the world are hung on buildings throughout downtown Sisters for one day. The quilts are attached to storefronts, draped over railings, displayed on every available surface of the town's Western-facade buildings.
Admission is free.
The show began in 1975, when Jean Wells hung a dozen quilts outside her quilt shop, The Stitchin' Post, which she had opened on May 23, 1975, and which is still family owned and operated. Today the show is produced by the nonprofit Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show organization.
Quilter's Affair runs in early July — the week before the Quilt Show.It is a week-long intensive workshop series at Sisters High School. Instructors lead a week of classes, with topics such as:
- Quilting and traditional piecing
- Fabric dyeing and surface design
- Barn quilt painting
- Hand stitching and embroidery
- Glass art and contemporary fiber arts
One of the most significant annual fiber arts education events in the United States.
Sisters Farmers Market runs Sundays, June through October, at Fir Street Park.Locally made foods, artisanal goods, and handmade crafts from Central Oregon producers and makers. The market reflects Sisters' Western heritage — local honey, farmstead goods, handmade leather and wood items, regional produce.
Sisters Rodeo (always the second week in June) is known as "the biggest little show in the world."Vendors set up alongside the rodeo events.
Sisters Folk Festival (September) is a weekend music festival with performers across seven venues in downtown Sisters.The town's artisan shops — jewelry, pottery, leather goods, photography, gallery items — are open year-round along Cascade Ave. The Western-facade building code that gives every downtown structure a frontier aesthetic makes the whole street feel like a curated experience.
Country Fairs & County Events Near Sisters
Sisters is in Deschutes County.
Deschutes County Fair is held at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in Redmond, about 18 miles east.Traditional county fair: livestock, 4-H competitions, carnival rides, entertainment, and vendor booths. Sisters residents and crafters participate regularly.
Sisters Rodeo (June) functions as a significant community gathering with vendors — not an agricultural fair, but a major annual event for the town.Best Times to Visit Sisters for Craft Events
June (Sisters Rodeo)Second week of June. Rodeo crowds fill the town.
Early July (Quilter's Affair)International fiber arts workshop intensive. The town is full of quilters from around the world. The Stitchin' Post is at its busiest. Many ancillary events — shop hops, gallery openings, artisan vendors throughout town.
Mid-July (Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show)The single most important day on Sisters' event calendar. The town transforms.
Plan to arrive early. Parking is very limited. Shuttle services from nearby areas are strongly recommended. The quilts begin coming down in the afternoon.
Summer generallySisters Farmers Market is active. Shops are open. The town is a pleasant destination for artisan shopping any summer day.
September (Sisters Folk Festival)Music festival weekend; quieter than July but still a notable event weekend.
Nearby Cities for Craft Shows
Sisters is a destination in itself, but Central Oregon has more to offer nearby.
- Bend, Oregon — 21 miles east; Bend Handmade Market, Bend Summer Festival, Sunriver Art Fair, Deschutes County Fair
- Redmond, Oregon — about 18 miles east; Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center
- Portland, Oregon — about 100 miles northwest; Portland Saturday Market, Crafty Wonderland, full metro craft calendar
- Explore all Oregon craft shows →
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best craft shows in Sisters, Oregon?
The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in mid-July is the most significant single-day craft event in Central Oregon — arguably one of the most distinctive craft events in the US. Quilter's Affair (early July) is the week-long fiber arts workshop intensive that precedes it. The Sisters Farmers Market runs through summer with local handmade goods. The Stitchin' Post anchors a year-round quilting and fiber arts retail presence.
When do craft shows happen in Sisters?
The major craft event concentration is in early July — Quilter's Affair runs in early July and the Outdoor Quilt Show is in mid-July. Sisters Rodeo (June) includes vendors. Sisters Farmers Market runs through summer. Sisters Folk Festival is in September. The town's artisan shops are open year-round.
Are there country fairs near Sisters?
Deschutes County Fair at the Expo Center in Redmond (18 miles east) is the closest traditional county fair. Sisters Rodeo (June) is a major community gathering with vendors but is a rodeo rather than an agricultural fair.
Is there a handmade market scene in Sisters?
Sisters has an exceptional handmade market scene for its size.
The Stitchin' Post has anchored Sisters' quilting culture since 1975, and the Outdoor Quilt Show its founder started draws visitors from all 50 states and other countries. Downtown Sisters' Western-facade shops include galleries, jewelry, leather goods, pottery, and handmade gift items. The Farmers Market supports local makers.
Quilter's Affair brings fiber arts students to town the week before the show — many of whom also shop the town's artisan stores during their stay.
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