Airing of the Quilts

Airing of the Quilts

Tunkhannock’s Airing of the Quilts began in the fall of 2002 when Jeannette Kitlan, owner of Endless Mountains Quiltworks, wanted to give something back to her community.

An outdoor quilt show was the perfect gift she could give to the town which welcomed her new quilt shop business just a year earlier. Following the model set by the famous Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon, Jeannette asked businesses and home owners along historic Tioga Street if she could hang quilts in their store fronts and porches on the first Saturday in October. They agreed and hundreds of people poured into the picturesque town to see the colorful display, browse in the shops, and sample the restaurants.

Airing of the Quilts

Thousands now visit Tunkhannock, known as the Gateway to the Endless Mountains, on the first Saturday in October, rain or shine. Every year “Airing” grows with added events and exhibits at various sites around town. 2008 will see the addition of a trolley to carry visitors around the one mile square area of town that will be decorated with quilts. Aided by her faithful family, dedicated shop staff, and hundreds of area quilt makers who graciously share their quilts, Jeannette has been able to continue giving her gift back to her community.