In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the New World Festival, we’re creating a one-of-a-kind commemorative quilt for this year’s celebration on Sunday September 2, 2012. Our goal is to raise enough money from the sale of raffle tickets to purchase the Festival’s own dance floor.

We hope that the quilt squares created for this project are as diverse as the people that love the festival, and that each reflects its joy and vibrancy. We’d love to receive squares from musicians, dancers, patrons, and festival volunteers, and we encourage everyone to spread the word about this project. Perhaps we’ll even have enough for two quilts!

All squares should be constructed of washable materials. Traditional and not-so-traditional quilting, appliqué, paper piecing, and fabric painting are all acceptable submissions. The size of the quilt will be dependent upon the number of squares received.

Each square should be 10.5 inches. With allowances for quarter-inch seams, the finished squares will be ten inches. Finished squares should be submitted to Chandler by April 30 at 71-73 Main Street, Randolph, Vermont 05060.

You have been an important part of the Festival’s long and distinguished history. Even if you aren’t able to contribute to this effort, please think about forwarding information about the project to someone who might be interested.

Thank you, one and all, for a great festival! Coming together in celebration of these great musical traditions was especially important in the aftermath of the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Irene.  As one dedicated festival patron put it, “There’s nothing like music to re-infuse one’s soul.” More than $200 was raised at the festival for flood relief in Vermont.

The winners of the drawing for a free pass to next year’s festival are Ben Smith, Danielle Pepin and Anne Lambert.

See you next year!

Chandler’s New World Festival is a 12-hour annual all-weather event on Labor Day Sunday in Randolph, Vermont that celebrates the Celtic and French American musical heritage so prevalent in this part of the New World brought to northern New England by English, Scottish, Irish and French-Canadian immigrants. The Festival has earned a reputation as one of the finest traditional music events in Vermont. With Main Street closed to traffic, the festival site is an intimate pedestrian village. Nearly 75 of the best regional and international musicians present concerts, play in dance bands, and share tunes and traditions.

Performances are in Chandler, in all-weather tents on Main Street, and in Bethany Church. Puppet shows, performances by young musicians, dance instruction and crafts are featured in the Family tent. The Dance tent offers participatory dancing in a variety of styles: contra, French quadrilles, Cape Breton, and free-style. The Sessions tent brings musicians from the same traditions together to share tunes in impromptu performances. Adding to the festive atmosphere is work by area artisans. The Food tent offers specialties from several area caterers; local non-profit organizations sell homemade treats and raise funds for community activities.

All performance sites are wheelchair accessible.