The 36th annual Quartz Quiltz and Craftz Festival (QQC) offers everyone three times the fun this weekend at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
This year’s festival will be held October 7-9 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds located just east of Mount Ida just off Highway 270.
This year the 29th Annual World Championship Quartz Crystal Dig allows crystal diggers to compete for a total of $2,100 in prize money.
The amateur crystal digging competition is split into two categories: adults and youth (ages 17 and under). Participants may dig at either Twin Creek Crystal Mine, or Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine. They keep all the crystals they find and can submit their best point and cluster each day for prizes.
A new feature this year is the team dig. Members of gem and mineral and rockhounding clubs can compete against rival clubs for bragging rights and a chance to win a free entry to next year’s event.
So far 84 diggers from 17 states representing nine clubs have preregistered for this year’s dig. Registration is open until 7 a.m. Friday morning. There is a $100 entry fee for the world championship crystal dig. There will be an awards banquet Saturday evening at 6 p.m.
Little diggers aren’t left out of the event. Thanks to Dixie Mining Company elementary school age children can dig for crystals from Twin Creek Crystal Mine in a specially prepared tailings pile. Entry for the kid’s dig is $1 per child and each child must have a parent or legal guardian present to participate. Participants get to keep all the crystals they find and submit their best point and cluster to compete for awards and prizes including free passes to the Mid-America Science Museum. There will also be an educational presentation by Sandra Chandler of the Arkansas Geological Survey.
The quilt show features some of the finest quality quilts in the region. Local quilt enthusiasts will have their quilts on display. Reports are that there are already over 150 quilts registered for this year’s event.
Quilt registration will be done October 6 at the fairgrounds.
For more information on the quilt show contact the Montgomery County Extension Office at (870) 867-2311.
Whether you are a vendor, or someone interested in buying some of the best hand made crafts our area has to offer you don’t want to forget the craft show that will be held all three days.
For more information about signing up as a vendor for the craft show contact Virginia Welchman at (870) 867-4846.
